Creating brighter futures

Investment in FE is scarce, and it’s easy as a college leader to get stuck in a space where you just want to secure funds for your college without thinking about the wider community beyond your gates.

But if we step back and look at the objectives of our stakeholders, we will see much alignment. Working in true partnerships with local and mayoral combined authorities and local stakeholders, we can think how we can invest and improve our towns and regions. An approach of no borders, no walls can bring huge benefits to staff and students, and also genuinely contribute towards making the place the college sits within a thriving community, delivering connected services to its residents.

For me, this ethos became really embedded through my involvement in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities towns fund. In July 2021, 101 towns were invited to develop a range of schemes up to the value of £25 million with the aim of fostering economic regeneration, stimulating investment and delivering vital infrastructure. As a fund, it was short-lived, coming to an end in 2022, but those objectives still live on through the new Labour government.

And as anyone who has been in FE long enough will know, there will always be another fund, another pot of money to bid for, another opportunity to gain investment for the better of your college and community.

So, what lessons can colleges take from the towns fund when it comes to partnership work that delivers strong outcomes across the wider community?

I was involved with two projects through the towns fund during my time at the Bedford College Group as their learner base spanned multiple local authority areas.

The two projects were quite different, but ultimately successful and have gone on to thrive. The first was the transformation of an old 1959 college tower block into a net zero, carbon in operation contemporary building fit for the future. The other was the development of a new zero, carbon in operation sixth form college on top of a shopping centre.

When I went to the Town’s Fund board meeting for the 1959 renovation, I was really struck by the true feeling of collaboration between the local stakeholders, from the school trusts to local housing authority, and from the local brewing company to the hospitals. Although we were all representing our own organisations, as a group, we became champions for the projects that had secured the funding, promoting the benefit that collectively they would have for the town. Our project was the first to complete and acted as a catalyst to move the remaining projects forward with increased momentum. The whole group took joy in seeing the projects succeed.

The experience of developing the new sixth form was quite different. The board was equally supportive, and we had brilliant buy-in from local stakeholders. However, the shopping centre was privately owned by a pension fund, and it became apparent that our values were misaligned. When it came to securing the deal to rent the space, they wanted to charge us an amount that was unviable despite the considerable capital investment from the towns fund. Relentless negotiations followed until both parties were comfortable signing the agreement. Regardless of this obstacle the towns fund board stood firm in its support of the project.

So, in my experience, the most successful projects are those that have the full wholehearted backing of the stakeholders, who may be public sector colleagues, local community influencers and local business owners, all wanting something better for the town and the community they live or work in. It’s a rare but precious moment when the purpose of all involved in delivering the local objectives align. Managing and nurturing these relationships are key as these are the people who come out to bat for your project; they are your cheerleaders within the community. They will carry the message, listen to the community and reassure the naysayers as the project progresses. These are your allies, all working towards a common goal for the good of the area.

With well-narrated projects, the opportunity to extend the support for your project is possible, enabling a wider group of people and organisations to be involved, offering future support in ways that will directly benefit the learners, enriching their experience and adding context to their learning.

However, some organisations you might encounter during projects will have an objective of financial gain and not educational gain. Working with these partner organisations can be a challenging aspect of the project as they may not share the values of the majority. None the less they are important collaborators in the scheme that need to be managed; this is when the language of the heart no longer matters and only hard facts and figures win over. These partners can often be landlords or other commercial organisations, holding your nerve and using the breadth of data persuasively will help manage the outcome of the arrangement, but compromise might still be required on both sides.

All of this, of course, takes a huge amount of resource and hard work. So, do I still think it is worth engaging in collaborative bids? Absolutely!

Amy, a dedicated T Level student, has found her wings during her industry placement with The Bird of Prey Project in Bath.

As part of her T Level in Animal Care and Management, Amy’s placement has been a transformative experience, helping her build confidence, independence, and skills that will last a lifetime.

The Bird of Prey Project, known for its commitment to restoring habitats and conserving birds of prey, offers a hands-on environment that truly rewards passion and effort.

Amy has embraced this opportunity wholeheartedly, becoming an integral part of the team. Her natural motivation, excellent customer service skills, and growing expertise in avian care have earned her praise from both staff and visitors.

A particularly memorable milestone in Amy’s journey was learning to handle and fly the birds. Among these breath taking moments was the first time she flew Bella, the Indian Rock Owl.

Amy’s confidence visibly blossomed as she mastered this skill, reflecting her dedication to learning and growth.

Amy’s placement has not only been an educational experience but also a deeply rewarding one, offering a unique blend of challenges and accomplishments.

If you would like to find out more about our T Level courses in Animal Care and Management, then click here.

Weston-super-Mare AFC, in partnership with Weston College, is inviting talented young footballers aged 15 to 19 to an exclusive Academy Trial Day.

The event, designed to inspire and develop the next generation of players, will take place on 3rd January, and offers a unique blend of professional coaching and educational opportunities.

The Academy Trial Day provides a platform for participants to showcase their skills while exploring pathways that combine football and academics through Weston College’s tailored programmes.

Event Highlights: 

• Professional Coaching: Participants will train with Weston-super-Mare AFC’s experienced Academy staff and gain valuable insights into the professional football environment. 
• Pathway Opportunities: Learn about Weston College’s innovative educational programmes designed to help students balance athletic and academic pursuits. 
• Player Development: Compete alongside current U16 players and challenge yourself against talented peers in a high-level training session.

Simon Panes, Academy Director at Weston-super-Mare AFC, said: “We at the academy strive to offer the perfect footballing pathway built around full-time education. The club and the academy are now attracting players from a larger geographical area due to its success and high profile. All our staff aim to improve every facet of the academy and the standard of player within. We look forward to welcoming you to our January trials to showcase your talent.”

Jack Gadd, Student Engagement Manager at Weston College, added: “We’re delighted to be offering this exciting opportunity, alongside Weston-super-Mare AFC.

“We’re passionate about providing learners with pathways that support them in achieving sporting success, and this established partnership is the perfect example of this. Through opportunities such as these, our learners can achieve both their sporting and academic goals.”

Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged. 

This is an exceptional chance for young players to take their football journey to the next level while planning their future with Weston College’s support.

For further details and to reserve your place, please click here.