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Government launches strategy to deliver low carbon colleges

John Denham, the secretary of state for Innovation and Skills, has announced a two billion pound strategy to develop new low carbon colleges.

'Building Colleges for the Future', launched last week at Portsmouth Highbury College, contains proposals for a further education building works programme in England that the government says will see £2.3 billion invested over the next three years.

John Denham said: "In 1997 there was no dedicated capital budget for further education colleges. The record £2.3 billion we are now investing sets out our most ambitious plans yet for sustainable college buildings.

"We will require all new projects to meet the highest building standards for sustainable design and have a taskforce in place to advise on how we will ensure that all new buildings are zero carbon by 2016. This is two years ahead of the Government's target for public sector building announced in the Budget.

"The strategy will also announce the inclusion of mandatory training plans for apprenticeships and work-based learning in all contracts. This will ensure we get maximum value and training opportunities out of every penny of public investment going into our colleges, and marks the beginning of a radical new approach to public procurement."

Mark Haysom, chief executive of the Learning and Skills Council said: "We believe that this significant investment in the FE Estate is proof of the Government's ambition and commitment to create world-class FE facilities that will provide high quality, learning and teaching experiences for all.

"We're certain that this expenditure will have a positive impact on participation and attainment for both young and adult learners and will meet the needs of employers helping to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the nation.

"Ensuring world–class teaching takes place in world-class FE facilities, designed for the 21st century, should be the ultimate goal for everyone involved in education and training."

Alison Birkinshaw, chair of FE reputation strategy group and principal of York College said: “We welcome the continuing commitment by the Government to the vital transformation of the FE estate. The significant investment in world-class teaching and learning facilities will benefit learners of all ages, employers and local communities and will continue to ensure that FE works well to deliver high quality education and training for the foreseeable future.

"York College has recently moved into a brand new £60 million college and already it is clear that there has been a very positive impact on the success of learners and the satisfaction of staff."

Stella Mbubaegbu CBE, principal and chief executive of Highbury College, Portsmouth said: "This is a coherent and innovative strategy. We welcome the further significant investment in FE, demonstrating the government's commitment to and ambitions for the sector.

"Our College has very recently benefited from major LSC capital grants which have enabled us to develop new, state of the art, sustainable buildings and facilities in support of our vision to truly transform learning and work for our students and staff. We support wholeheartedly the new requirement for construction companies to invest in the skills of local community - a major boost for apprenticeships, work based learning and other training."

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