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<p>The government is committed to creating a world leading skills system which is
employer-focused, high quality and fit for the future. The government’s reforms are
strengthening higher education (HE) and further education (FE) to help more people
get good jobs and upskill and retrain throughout their lives, as well as to improve
national productivity and economic growth. The government’s reforms are backed with
an additional investment of £3.8 billion over the course of this Parliament to strengthen
HE and FE.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>This additional funding will help providers such
as those in Bury to deliver high quality education and training.</p><p> </p><p>Bury
College serves the Bury South constituency and received £25.3 million to deliver learning
and skills training programmes in 2022/23 for 16 to18 year olds and apprentices for
local employers. Bury College has also received capital investment of over £12 million
since 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Bury College offers a wide range of post-16 education and
training from pre-entry level qualifications, A levels, T Levels, vocational courses
at Levels 1 to 3, and apprenticeships in health and public services, business administration,
engineering, retail and commercial enterprise, and education and training. It also
has a University Centre and works in partnership with several local universities to
deliver a range of HE courses at Higher National Diploma, Foundation Degree and Degree
level to the local community. Bury College also receives funding for adult education
programmes via Greater Manchester Combined Authority.</p><p> </p><p>Bury College is
a partner of the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology, led by The University
of Salford, and has received £1.353 million of funding for refurbishments and specialist
equipment in Heath Innovation, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Enterprise
and Sports provision. Bury College will account for 25% of all learners at the Institute
of Technology. This equates to approximately 200 learners in 2023/24.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>The area is also served by Holy Cross College, a Catholic sixth form college,
which received £12.89 million to deliver learning programmes for 16 to18 year olds
in 2022/23. It delivers a largely academic Level 3 programme and a small Level 2 cohort.
Holy Cross College has a University Centre delivering HE both through a direct contract
with Office for Students and in partnership with Liverpool Hope University.</p><p>
</p><p>The department is increasing investment in the apprenticeships system in England
to £2.7 billion by 2024/25 to support employers of all sizes and in all areas of the
country, including Bury South, to grow their businesses with the skilled apprentices
they need. Since 2010, there have been 11,380 apprenticeship starts in Bury South.</p><p>
</p><p>The department has introduced the Free Courses for Jobs scheme which enables
eligible adults to gain a qualification for free. Residents in Bury can access provision
in a range of sector subject areas delivered through colleges and training providers
in the area.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the department has also introduced Skills
Bootcamps, which are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity
to build up sector-specific skills and fast track to an interview with an employer.
In each of the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years, the department has allocated £7.5
million to Greater Manchester Combined Authority to deliver Skills Bootcamps in the
Greater Manchester area, including in Bury South via grant funding.</p><p> </p><p>T
Levels will equip more young people with the skills, knowledge and experience to access
skilled employment or further study. From September 2023, 18 T Levels will be available
and will be delivered through nearly 300 providers across all regions of the country.
Bury college is delivering T Levels in business administration, legal, financial,
and accounting, education and childcare, and health and engineering in 2023/24. The
college intends to introduce further T Levels in catering and hospitality, construction
and the built environment, creative and digital, and hair and beauty in 2024/25.</p>
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