Dudley College vows to offer support despite cuts

The college will have around 1,000 less places available to adult learners on certain courses after a £1.4 million drop in Government funding.

College bosses have said that up to 30 jobs made be at risk of redundancy due to the fewer numbers of places available for adult learners.

The cuts come from the Government's Skills Funding Agency for the courses the college provides.

Health and social care courses as well as early years training delivered in the workplace like care homes and nurseries for employees are among the courses affected.

Others are giving skills to help people referred to the college from Job Centres and the prison service.

Principal Lowell Williams said the council had been forced to make 'difficult choices' but said it would continue to work to support adult learners.

He also hit out at the cuts in funding saying it was the local economy that would feel the impact of a potential skills shortage.

"I'm not sure the funding agency will see the true impact of its cuts as it has no direct contact with those adult learners we'll be forced to turn away in August because there's no money to support their learning," he said.

"Two years ago when funding was reduced for level 3 qualifications, an introduction of 24+ Advance Learning Loans offered students the choice to continue studying.

"Regrettably, a similar loan option hasn't been introduced during this budget reduction, even though the cuts will affect a larger number of learners.

"We are currently looking at ways to support adult learners through other funding options.

"We are advising students to consider 24+ loans if they are eligible and talking to employers about a different strategy to fund those individuals learning in the workplace."

A 30 day consultation period is now under way for staff informed of job losses, according to college bosses.

After this staff will be advised of their options once the funding cuts come into being at the start of August.

Officials say the cuts come despite the college's financial health remains 'strong' and the multi-million pound investment in Dudley's Learning Quarter.

New learning campus' have been developed including new training centres which have transformed the town centre.

The college says that the range of training opportunities has resulted in an increase in the numbers of people aged 19 and over studying in the last few years.