The‘Love Our Colleges’ campaign is an opportunity to highlight the brilliant work that goes on in colleges, and the brilliant staff that make it all possible. It is also our opportunity to push for better investment in colleges, and fair pay for college staff. Despite making great efficiencies over the last decade, there is a strong consensus that that colleges need major investment to secure their long-term futures for them to be able to support the economy, communities, and individuals. The UK’s industrial strategy identifies skills as an issue across a range of priority sectors and the need for action to avoid shortages. Without thriving colleges, this priority will not be met.

 

We are calling on the government to commit to a long-term funding plan for colleges, that:

• Invests in young people by increasing funding to £5,000 per student
• Invests in skills so that no-one is left behind, and more people reach advanced levels
• Invests in the college workforce to close the pay gap with schools.