Thurrock Learning Campus partners looking to raise 60m for Phase Two
Despite the national announcement this summer by the Learning
& Skills Council (LSC) that funding for new College buildings
had run out, partners in the Thurrock Learning Campus project are
working hard to negotiate alternative funding options and remain
confident they will be able to realise the Phase Two Campus
building.
Through partners and the lead partner’s South East Essex
College's own borrowing capacity along with the realisation of some
assets, the phase two project could be in a position to generate a
funding package in excess of £60m, subject to further discussions
with lenders, partners and funding agencies.
Jan Hodges, Principal and Chief Executive of South East Essex
College, said:
“Together with our education and funding partners and the Council,
we are fully committed to delivering the highest quality education
and training to learners across Thurrock. We have now identified a
number of means to raise much of the funding needed to realise
phase two, thanks to our own financial strength and record of
achieving outstanding results for learners of all ages.”
Tom Gardiner, Delivery Director, Thurrock Thames Gateway
Development Corporation said: “Thames Gateway is the largest
regeneration project in Western Europe so the local communities in
Thurrock stand to benefit immensely through increased job
opportunities if they can access the skills needed to support the
regeneration.
“It is through both phase one and phase two of the Thurrock
Learning Campus that many more local people can stand to benefit in
the future through high quality training for better jobs and career
opportunities. We are very pleased with the progress that's been
made since the LSC's announcement and remain optimistic that phase
two building will go ahead.”
Jan added: “It's important that people are clear that phase one of
the Thurrock Learning Campus based close to Grays station will
continue to open its doors to young people, employers and adults on
a range of vocational courses relevant to the regional economy as
planned until a new permanent Thurrock Learning Campus is
operational. That was always our intention.”
South East Essex College is in a strong financial position after
almost doubling its number of students in the past five years at
its Southend Campus and tripling its intake at the new phase one
Thurrock Learning Campus in just nine months.
The College continues to work closely with Thurrock Council and
the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation and other
partners examining all the options. The Partnership hopes to be in
a position to make a full announcement about phase two by
mid-2010.
The College is currently going through the latter stage of a
merger with Thurrock & Basildon College, which if successful,
will see a new 'super college' launched in January 2010 with three
campuses serving the communities of Thurrock, Basildon and
Southend.
Jan concluded: “If the proposed merger goes ahead, we – as South
Essex College of Further and Higher Education - will also be
investing in resources at the existing Thurrock and Basildon
campuses to ensure that learners are given the best facilities in
order to be best prepared for their future careers.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
• The total phase one Thurrock Learning Campus was £4.4m.
The Learning & Skills Council provided £3.925m; East of England
Development Agency and Thurrock Thames Gateway Development
Corporation provided £228,356 each. Land for the building is leased
by Thurrock Council.
• Thames Gateway South Essex is part of the largest
regeneration project in Western Europe and an estimated 55,000 new
jobs will be created over the next 15 years, nearly half of which
will be in the Thurrock area.
• The Thurrock Learning Campus is led by South East Essex
College and includes a number of further and higher education
partners such as Palmers College, Anglia Ruskin University, The
University of Essex and The University of East London.