More than £17 million of government funding is being invested in Staffordshire colleges to help meet record demand for post-16 education and tackle skills shortages across the region.
The funding forms part of a £287 million Department for Education (DfE) programme that will create more than 22,000 additional post-16 places across England as colleges respond to growing learner numbers.
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) has secured £6.8 million from the DfE’s Post-16 Capacity Fund, while Stoke on Trent College will receive more than £6 million. Burton and South Derbyshire College (BSDC) has been awarded up to £4.9 million, and South Staffordshire College will also benefit, although details of its allocation have yet to be announced.
NSCG, which said it is experiencing unprecedented demand for places, will use the funding towards a major £13 million extension to its Knutton Lane campus in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
The project will deliver at least 16 new classrooms and bring all health and social care facilities into a dedicated teaching facility, freeing up space elsewhere on campus for other curriculum areas.
Planning permission has already been granted, with regional building contractor Speller Metcalfe due to commence work on 10 August. The extension is expected to open in time for the September 2027 intake.
Craig Hodgson, Principal and Chief Executive of NSCG, said: “We are delighted to have secured this support from the Department for Education and we extend our sincere thanks to the DfE and our local MPs for their continued backing. Learner numbers on our Newcastle campus grew by 700 last September alone and overall enrolment has increased by over 25% over the last five years—a true testament to our reputation for quality, results and student experience.
“With colleges nationwide facing demographic growth, we are thrilled that we can open up further capacity to ensure local school leavers continue to have access to top-tier education. We look forward to seeing work get underway shortly and to welcoming our September 2027 intake into this state-of-the-art facility.”
Stoke on Trent College said its funding will help increase capacity as learner numbers continue to rise while strengthening its ability to meet employer demand for skills in areas such as construction and green technologies.
Principal and CEO, Hassan Rizvi, said: “This investment is a strong endorsement of the progress Stoke on Trent College has made in recent years and the confidence that exists in our ability to deliver the skills our region and the wider economy need.
“We’re seeing increasing numbers of learners choosing Stoke on Trent College, both young people and adults who want to gain the technical and professional skills that lead to future-proofed, rewarding careers. At the same time, employers are looking to us to help address skills shortages across key sectors, particularly construction and green technologies.
“This new funding will enable us to strengthen our partnerships with employers and make a meaningful difference to lives of individuals within our city and the wider region in line with our Skills Ready Future Ready strategy 2026 – 2029.”
Meanwhile, BSDC will demolish its former engineering workshop and replace it with a modern, purpose-built facility, creating flexible teaching spaces, immersive digital learning environments and specialist technology-enabled classrooms.
Principal and Chief Executive John Beaty said: “This investment will help us build a new facility within our Burton upon Trent campus that will create additional capacity over the medium term ensuring we can continue to provide local people with the skills, competencies and qualifications that are in high demand from local employers.
“This is not only great news for our college and those who study with us but is a real win for local employers who can now be assured of an increased pipeline of future talent.”
South Staffordshire College has not yet disclosed how much it has secured or how the investment will be used.
