Briefing Title: Growth Deals and College capital projects Date: 7 July 2014 Growth Deals and College Capital Projects The government has made some important announcements today about capital funding to colleges in 2015-16 via Local Enterprise Partnerships. These are contained within 39 Growth Deals which set out the agreement reached between the Cities and Local Growth Unit and Local Enterprise Partnerships. All the deals are on the government website here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-growth-deals The deals provide some more information on how the 2 billion Single Local Growth Fund will be allocated in 2015-16. This fund includes 330 million in capital funding for colleges and other providers of skills training. The information on individual LEP plans is spread out across 39 documents. AoC s staff has therefore brought together the information about skills capital funding into this note. There are three broad approaches taken in the various LEPs: some of the bigger LEPs (eg London, Greater Manchester, South East) have not yet allocated the capital funding they have been given. This suggests creates a risk of delay while they hold a further allocation round. some LEPs have allocated precise amounts to named College projects. The growth deals summarise these projects. some LEPs have no skills capital projects listed for funding 2015-16 but in some cases name projects with provisional support for 2016. The amounts quoted in the document are the sums allocated by central government. Most of the college projects will involve money provided by the college itself in the form of retained cash, new borrowing or income from land sales. These funds supplied by the colleges will form part of the LEP commitments listed in the plans. The growth deals set out longer term plans for the 39 areas (some of which have overlapping boundaries). Capital sums for 2016-17 and beyond are provisional. The sums allocated in the Single Local Growth Fund for 2015-16 2-5 Stedham Place, London WC1A 1HU T: 020 7034 9900 E: publicaffairs@aoc.co.uk www.aoc.co.uk AoC_info Association-of-Colleges
vary from 9 million for Cumbria to 170 mil for Greater Manchester. Some of the bigger college projects listed will take more than one year to complete so clarity about future year's funding would be helpful. At this stage, government has not clarified the extent to which a LEP can vary the plans set out in each deal (for example because of some external event), whether there is an appeal route for a college whose project has been left out of the plans, how the projects themselves have been assessed, how they will be evaluated or audited, what the flow of funds is from government to college (presumably via each LEP s accountable body) and what arrangements will be made to report on spending. It would naturally be helpful to have these questions answered well before April 2015. AoC s Capital reference group, established in 2009 in the wake of problems with the college capital programme, has provided advice to BIS on the current capital programme operated by the Skills Funding Agency which was awarded a green light in all areas in a 2013 Office of Government Commerce (OGC) review. Information on the AoC group is here https://www.aoc.co.uk/funding-andcorporate-services/funding-and-finance/capital-projects The rest of this note contains edited extracts from the 39 plans. If you see any mistakes which need correcting, please email me at julian_gravatt@aoc.co.uk Julian Gravatt Association of Colleges 7 July 2014
College Capital Projects listed in Growth Deals https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-growth-deals Black Country 25.8 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 A new state of the art Centre for Advanced Building Technologies and Construction Skills comprising approximately 4,427m2 of new teaching and workshop facilities to complete the 48m investment in Dudley Advance Buckinghamshire and Thames Valley 8.9 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Transforming Amersham and Wycombe College Estate - modernise the buildings at the Amersham Centre to support curriculum development and quality improvement. Renewal of fabric of the main buildings and essential maintenance, remodelling and upgrading of teaching and specialist facilities. Development of the campus as a specialist hub for Creative and Media Industries Cheshire and Warrington 15.3 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Skills Capital Employer informed programme to address skills needs in engineering, energy, logistics, manufacturing, agri-tech and sports science. Focus on estate renewal and employer led business hubs ( 12.1 million promised) Coast to Capital (ie parts of Surrey plus Sussex) 38 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Advanced Engineering Centre Collaboration between University of Brighton and Ricardo in a new Centre of Excellence to deliver leading automotive and emissions research
City College Brighton and Hove and Chichester College refurbishment of dilapidated buildings and facilities. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 10.4 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 No skills projects listed Coventry and Warwickshire 13.6 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Develop a new Skills Centre at Coventry City College. This will provide support for young and unemployed people in acquiring skills for employment, and for marginalised groups to acquire basic skills especially English and mathematics. Develop a new Apprenticeship Centre at Warwickshire College. This investment will enable the college to purchase new equipment and refurbish college buildings, which will provide additional apprenticeship training in advanced manufacturing and engineering. Cumbria 7.8 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 An Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre at Furness College to equip Cumbrians with the skills to take up the expanding opportunities at BAE and within the supply chain for major manufacturers 1.2m government funding in total ( 0.7m in 15/16) D2N2 (ie Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire) 31.6 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Nottingham Skills Hub project to integrate FE provision and employment opportunities across the city to meet the demands of business. It will provide a new College building in the heart of Nottingham s Creative Quarter, with employment sites in communities, which will complement existing Work Programme, Youth Contract, Employer and Apprenticeship Hubs
Chesterfield Centre for Higher Level Skills the new Centre for Higher Level skills will deliver a huge change in higher level skills opportunities and support the economic growth of businesses and the workforce in Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire Vision University Centre, Mansfield The Vision University Centre will create a new teaching and learning space with state of the art facilities to support local people gain higher level vocational skills. Creating opportunities to access higher level skills locally will support increased progression among young people and ensure employers can access the higher level skills they need Dorset 11.7 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 No projects in the 2015-16 list of starts but two projects earmarked for 2016 and beyond Bournemouth and Poole College Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing New facilities for engineering and advanced manufacturing students to help close Dorset s high level skills gap in this key sector Bournemouth and Poole College Financial and Business Services Refurbishment of facilities to equip the next generation of local entrepreneurs with the enterprise skills they need to succeed Enterprise M3 (ie parts of Surrey plus Hampshire) 29.4 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Andover Technology and Skills Centre - A new Technology and Skills Centre at Andover College focused on sectors where local employers have an employment/skills need Brockenhurst College Upgrading of existing Further Education estate with a new state of the art science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) facility. The facility will provide support to local businesses and improve the efficiency of the college estate.
Whitehill and Bordon Construction Skills Centre - A new Construction Skills Centre to upskill the local labour force and meet the demands of new housing development in Whitehill and Bordon. Brooklands College, Ashford - New state of the art teaching accommodation to support the Enterprise M3 Skills and Employment strategy with a focus on apprenticeships Gloucestershire 11 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 The Growth Hub providing businesses in target sectors with advice and skills support they need to grow and activities to improve awareness of career opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) subjects, apprenticeship take-up, graduate retention and start-up activity in younger entrepreneurs. Greater Birmingham and Solihull 38.7 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Solihull Aviation Engineering Training Centre, a new facility to support aerospace technologies ( 0.8m all in 2015/16) Food Technology Skills Excellence Hub, providing specialist facilities that will enable skills development for a growing sector at the University College Birmingham ( 0.3m all in 2015/16) The development of Life Sciences Centre Academy at Bournville College ( 3.5m, of which 1.5m in 2015/16) Expansion of the Jaguar Land Rover Engineering Centre for Manufacturing Support, establishing a dedicated training facility for engineering SMEs in the supply chain of major companies at South and City College ( 0.6m all in 2015/16) Expansion of the Jaguar Land Rover Motor Vehicle Centre for Advanced Automotive Training and Skills, upgrading existing facilities at South and City
College to meet the high technology requirements of the sector ( 0.3m all in 2015/16) Advanced Manufacturing Hub, delivering a 20ha Regional Investment Site in Birmingham by bringing sites to market ( 2.0m of which 1.0m in 2015/16) The creation of a new 4ha Life Sciences Campus, providing a science park facility adjacent to the University of Birmingham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital ( 5.0m, of which 2.0m in 2015/16) The creation of an inter-disciplinary Centre of Excellence in Advanced Technologies at Birmingham Metropolitan College ( 11.2m, of which 1.1m in 2015/16) HS2 Construction Skills, enhancing facilities and equipment at South and City College, Birmingham to deliver the specialist skills needed to deliver HS2 ( 0.1m) Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough 17.1 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 New facilities for The Welding Institute (TWI), to support their expansion to the Alconbury Weald Enterprise Zone, bringing more high-skilled jobs, supporting growing businesses in high-tech sectors and acting as a further catalyst for growth at the site Establishing a new Technical and Vocational Centre at Alconbury Weald Enterprise Zone, with a focus on built environment and engineering technical expertise in particular, supporting not only the development of the Zone itself, but growth across the wider LEP area Greater Lincolnshire 18.6 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Bishop Burton College - a new specialist land-based campus on the Lincolnshire Showground to increase skills levels in the agri-food sector And a project earmarked for 2016 and beyond
Grantham College a new build to house the business, computing and technology curriculum and delivery of enterprise and employability skills Greater Manchester 65 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Invest 0.1m of the Local Growth Fund in 2015/17 and a further 1.2m in 2016/17 to support the establishment of a creative and digital media centre at Salford City College. Invest 0.6m in 2015/16 to provide specialist advanced manufacturing equipment for the Invest 3.5m in 2015/16 and a further 2.5m in 2016/17 to support the establishment of new leisure and tourism and business & management facilities in Ashton-Under-Lyne for Tameside College. Provide the further education provider Economic Solutions with 0.2m of funding to support the relocation of two existing Training Centres (Salford and Wigan), the refurbishment of a further seven existing Training Centres and the enhancement of the Greater Manchester Skill Centre equipment (covering craft and mechanical, engineering and automotive skills). Provide the further education provider Mantra Learning with 0.3m of funding to develop a live process manufacturing facility to enable learning to take place. Invest 1.8m to increase the range of further education provision and meet demand at Wigan and Leigh College. Invest 3.1m to support the Civil Engineering and Groundworks Centre at Stockport College. Heart of South West 49.2 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 5m investment in Bridgewater College in 2015/16
6.5m investment in Hinkley Point Training Activities (including 3m in 2015/16) 5.4m investment in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Marine skills in the City of Plymouth (including 1.72m in 2015/16) 2.5m investment in the Environmental Futures Campus at Exeter Science Park in 2015/16 1m investment in Somerset College in 15/16 Hertfordshire 20 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 Invest 5m to upgrade facilities at West Herts College (including 3m in 15/16) - re-development of the town centre campus as part of an integrated approach to the regeneration of Hemel Hempstead town centre. Humber 21.2 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 A 7m new training infrastructure at CATCH in North East Lincolnshire to provide a range of specialist offshore wind provision, including new facilities for working at height and marine transfer/offshore survival training ( 1.8m in the CATCH offshore wind training facility in North East Lincolnshire, with a commitment to 0.5m in 2015/16, and a provisional allocation of 1.3m for future years) Extension of Goole College s vocational skills workshop and associated classroom refurbishment to provide engineering and renewable technologies training ( 0.8m for Goole College Skills Workshop modernisation, with a commitment to 0.45m in 2015/16, and a provisional allocation of 0.35m in future years; Creation of a 7.8m new build logistics learning centre by Grimsby Institute providing renewable, STEM and environmental technology skills to develop suitable skills pathways for developing new opportunities especially in Offshore ( 2.1m in the Environmental Logistics Learning Hub in Grimsby, with a
commitment to 0.2m in 2015/16, and a provisional allocation of 1.9m for future years) In addition, the Humber LEP will consider how its stated ambition to host a National Centre for Energy Skills fits with the Government s published prospectus for new National Colleges. The LEP also commits to enhancing the current Careers Information, Advice and Guidance offer by influencing the shape of provision so that it meets the needs of the local economy and by facilitating stronger linkages between education providers and local businesses. Lancashire 36.4 mil new Local Growth award 2015-16 30m skills allocation (of which 10m is for 2015/16), from which 6.2m is identified for the development Blackpool and Fylde College facilities. Offer to work with all interested parties on the development of their response to the National College Prospectus. Leeds City Region 62 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 No projects listed but a commitment to invest 74m in a skills capital investment programme (with 12m in 2015/16 Leicester and Leicestershire 20.2 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Leicester College - A new building to accommodate Motor Vehicle Engineering training and refurbishment of a building to accommodate Construction training ( 4.4 million project with 2.2m from government in total; 0.6m in 2015/16) Liverpool City Region 35 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 47.7m package of improvements for six colleges equipment and facilities improved at six city region colleges to ensure that young people are properly trained for the jobs of tomorrow. 11.6 million to be allocated in 2015-6
A new low carbon fund for colleges to encourage energy efficiencies in colleges London 150 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 A capital infrastructure investment programme for London s skills providers based on a competitive bidding round that supports the London Enterprise Panel s priorities for promoting jobs and growth ( 55m in 2015/16 to fund the London Enterprise Panel s skills capital programme, with an provisional allocation of 65m in 2016/17, subject to further evidence of pipeline projects informed by the bidding round) New Anglia 32.5 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Process Engineering Centre & Renewal Catering and Hospitality Facilities at Lowestoft College Enabling the next stage of development of a national centre for Maritime, Offshore and Energy Studies at Lowestoft College ( 10m total government funding with 4.9m in 15/16) Higher Skills Science, Technology and Management Centre, College of West Anglia Development of a new Higher Skills Centre serving West Norfolk and Fenland to promote the attainment of higher skills and higher qualifications in the area ( 6.5m total government funding with 3.5m in 15/16) Construction and Agri-tech facilities, Easton and Otley College, Easton Campus Enabling building of a new construction training centre and new agri-tech laboratory areas to accommodate employers demands ( 2.5m total government funding with 2m in 15/16) Northamptonshire 9.1 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Tresham College, Wellingborough: creating a new state of the art campus in the town centre with space of an additional 580 learners and enhanced provision to
support NEETs and the unemployed (provisional 11.4m total government funding). North East 47.9 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 A skills improvement package with 20 million government funding to support five projects to increase skills levels in key sectors: 1m in Tyne Met College; 1.1m in South Tyneside College; 400,000 in Port of Blyth Offshore and Wind Energy Training Facility; 9.9m in Newcastle College Low Carbon Tech Centre; 10m in East Durham College Oxfordshire 9.2 million Oxfordshire Centre for Technology and Innovation - development of a Technology and Innovation Training Centre in Oxford to address skills shortages across engineering, electrical, design, and emerging technologies ( 4.5 mil total government funding, 3.5 mil in 2015-16) Promise to allocate 4m for a future project with build starting in 2016/17. Advanced Engineering and Technology Skills Centre - a collaboration with Abingdon and Witney college, the centre will address local, regional and national skills shortages in Science Technology Engineering and Maths subject areas by supplying skilled technicians at Harwell Oxford and elsewhere in Oxfordshire; and deploying the unique expertise and facilities available at and around Harwell Oxford as a learning resource for the rest of the UK, Europe and the world Sheffield City Region 36.8 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 British Glass Academy purpose built institution providing skills training for the glass manufacturing industry Skills Capital Fund for: 1) a programme to upgrade the existing Further Education estate across Sheffield City Region based on economic priorities, 2)
tackling bottlenecks which create excess demand for further education and 3) helping to create more business start-ups from Further Education ( 13m total government funding, 4m in 2015/16). Solent City Region (ie Hampshire) 27.5 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Invest 9m to upgrade facilities at Eastleigh College (including 4.4m in 2015/16). Invest 10.9m to create a new Centre of Excellence for Composites at Isle of Wight College (including 3.8m in 2015/16). South East (ie Essex and Kent) 64 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Invest 22.0m in a South East Local Enterprise Partnership Skills Capital programme (including 11m in 2015-16) South East Midlands (ie Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire) 21.2 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Northampton College, Daventry Campus: will deliver a purpose-built campus that provides excellent vocational facilities that engages and inspires students to achieve ( 6.5m total government funding with 3.6m in 2015/16) Leighton Linslade Engineering and Construction Skills Centre: The new centre will have engineering and construction expertise to train young people and adults to work as technicians in these key sectors ( 2.5m total government funding with 1.5m in 2015/16) Stoke and Staffordshire 13.6 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Invest 6.9m in an Advanced Manufacturing Skills Hub
Swindon and Wiltshire 12 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 No skills capital projects listed but a growth deal mentions government engagement to support a new Higher Education facility focused on cyber security, data science, creativity and the digital economy the Corsham Institute campus will comprise a Higher Education campus for up to 5,000 students, Tees Valley 14.1 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Cleveland College of Art and Design upgrading existing facilities including construction of a new building for creative industries ( 8.3m government funding with 2.5m in 2015/16). Redcar and Cleveland College to provide specialist accommodation for an Oil and Gas Academy and provide specialist teaching and support accommodation for a number of skills initiatives ( 2.4m government funding with 1.7m in 2015/16 Thames Valley 13.4 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Solutions Labs - three state of the art specialist STEM laboratories at Reading, Newbury and Slough Colleges (offering 850sq m of new floor space, 250 new jobs and various other outputs including: 130 L3 Apprentices; 210 Higher Apprentices; 220 L3 STEM qualifications; and 140 STEM traineeships0. 2.4 million government funding The Marches 10.4 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 No money for skills capital in 2015-16 but 3.3m 2016-17 provisional allocation to support essential skills capital projects in the Marches West of England 16.6 million new Local Growth award 2015-16
Government will invest 32m in a package of capital works to extend and improve the facilities at key further education establishments in the West of England. Providing a Future Technology Centre at Weston College; Extending the Advanced Engineering Centre at Bristol College; Extending the Advanced Construction Centre in South Bristol; Refurbishing and modernising Automotive workshops at Norton Radstock College; Creating a new Business Enterprise Training Centre at Norton Radstock College; Providing a new Construction Centre for Bath and North East Somerset; Creating a new West of England Law and Professional Services Academy at the Weston. Government has granted Weston College joint FE/HE status Worcestershire 9 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Centre of Vocational Education - Support for engineering apprenticeships and vocational training by providing space and facilities in partnership with a specialist training provide ( 0.8 million) York, North Yorkshire and East Riding 18 million new Local Growth award 2015-16 Investing in the college estate including: developing world-class facilities in Agri-tech and engineering at Askham Bryan College ( 1m in 2015/16) plus 0.6 mil for Land-based provision new and upgraded facilities at Harrogate College ( 4m in 2015/15 subject to agreement to the final business case demonstrating that the project offers value for money, is deliverable and there is an effective risk management strategy in place Julian Gravatt Association of Colleges 7 July 2014