MP Gareth Snell secures major upgrades to restore pride in Stoke-on-Trent College

MP Gareth Snell secures major upgrades to restore pride in Stoke-on-Trent College

Gareth Snell MP, Phoebe Dawson (Area Director – Association of Colleges), Hassan Rizvi (Principal & CEO Stoke-on-Trent College)

Stoke-on-Trent College and Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) is to receive part of Labour’s £307 million to repair and maintain colleges in England. This forms part of Labour’s £1.7 billion investment to modernise college buildings by 2030.

Young people in Stoke-on-Trent Central will see major upgrades to Stoke-on-Trent College, as Labour provides over £1.1 million to the college and over £2.7 million to NSCG as part of £307 million investment to turn the page on years of neglect.

From repairing leaky roofs and fixing broken windows, to updating worn-out heating systems, Stoke-on-Trent College and NSCG are two of 175 colleges that will benefit. The colleges will be given the flexibility to decide how the funding is spent, so it can be directed where it is needed most.

These upgrades will restore pride and break down barriers to opportunity for students, with fewer disruptions to lessons, more comfortable learning environments, and better spaces for students to focus and succeed. Modernised colleges will be key to delivering on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s target for two-thirds of young people to be taking a gold standard apprenticeship or heading to university by the age of 25.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said:

“The young people in these colleges are the engineers, bricklayers and designers of the future, and they and the dedicated staff teaching them deserve the best possible environment to learn and succeed.”

Gareth Snell MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central said:

“I’m delighted to have worked with the Labour government to secure vital investment for Stoke-on-Trent College – the heart of further education in Stoke-on-Trent Central.

“I back the bold target to get two-thirds of young people into a gold standard apprenticeship or heading to university by the age of 25. His ambition is matched in this funding.

“I’ll be working with constituents and speaking with the college about where this money will be best spent, so we can unlock opportunity for young people in Stoke-on-Trent Central and restore pride in their college.”

It follows Labour’s announcement of £570 million to increase capacity in colleges to train the next generation of skilled workers.