Trafford and Stockport College Group to receive £2.5 million share of government funding to repair buildings

Trafford and Stockport College Group has been allocated £2.5 million from a £307 million government fund to repair and maintain college buildings across England.

The government fund, increased by £5 million on last year’s support, is being shared between all 175 further colleges in England with institutions awarded between £6,000 and £7 million depending on their size. It is part of a £1.7 billion investment from the government’s Industrial Strategy for colleges to modernise buildings by 2030.

The group, which includes Stockport and Cheadle colleges as well as Marple Sixth Form College and campuses in Trafford, will receive funding in the next academic year and will have flexibility to decide how funding is spent across its estate.

The £307 million fund,, looks to support colleges to maintain their estates by backing repairs for leaky roofs, fixing broken windows and updates to heating systems. Upgrades also aim to support opportunity for students by reducing disruption to learning and making education environments more comfortable.

Julian Gravatt, Deputy Chief Executive, Association of Colleges, said:

“This funding for college estates is sorely needed, and we are pleased to see that every single FE college will benefit, and crucially, that individual colleges will be able to decide how the money is spent.”

This latest funding announcement for colleges follows the announcement of £570 million to increase their capacity and take on more learners.