18th January 2012

The Skills Funding Agency has confirmed South Staffordshire College as one of just 46 colleges out of a total of 129 that were successful in their application for Enhanced Renewal Grants.

This is the latest in a series of significant milestones for the College, including academic achievement figures released by the Data Service which revealed that it was the most successful College in Staffordshire and its key role in the development of a new Rural Enterprise Academy based at its Rodbaston Campus.

The proposed refurbishment will cost around £6Million, of which £4Million will be funded by the College.   Construction costs are expected to be approximately £3.9Million and the investment will result in the existing ex-mining building at Cannock Campus being transformed into a modern learning environment, providing first-class facilities for learners and staff and small start-up business office accommodation.  The new centre will also encourage further local community participation.

South Staffordshire College’s application received the full support of Cannock Chase Council, writing a letter of support for the application and providing advice on the Council’s skills agenda and measures to tackle unemployment so that these could be aligned with the College’s proposals.

As well as providing statistical data, planning support included balancing the benefits of the investment that the College could bring with the regulations on such a development in a conservation area.

Councillor Gordon Alcott, Economic Development and Planning Portfolio Leader at Cannock Chase Council, said “The partnership between Cannock Chase Council and South Staffordshire College has been a long term one with the aim of refurbishing the campus for the benefit of the College and the wider area.

We are delighted that the College has now received grant funding, this decision is a welcome boost to education and employment prospects in our District.”

Chief Executive Principal Graham Morley was pleased to receive the news, saying “The grant from the Skills Funding Agency is yet another major milestone in the development of South Staffordshire College and I’m delighted that the people of Cannock and the surrounding areas will be able to benefit from this investment and access world-class facilities. 

We have a clear vision of the leading role we should play in the education and future of people in the communities we serve and the wider West Midlands and the decision of the Skills Funding Agency endorses our ambition and our achievements.”

The Chief Executive of the Skills Funding Agency, Geoff Russell said:

“The Government's willingness to make this additional investment is an indication of the crucial role that Further Education colleges can play in providing skills training to regenerate local communities and the economy. The standard of bids received was extremely high and we are pleased that some of the most innovative projects have been chosen with the result that more young people, adults and employers will benefit from up-to-date, inspirational learning facilities.”

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