The future of further education in Folkestone was safeguarded last week as East Kent College took over K College in the town. The new principal Graham Razey, has positive plans to reinvigorate the college and to deliver even higher levels of education and training for its students.
Ever since K College went into financial difficulties, I have campaigned along with my colleague the Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, to ensure that there was a solution for Folkestone and Dover that delivered for local people. This meant keeping the further education courses that the colleges delivered in our towns. It would have been totally unacceptable to see colleges sold off to pay for past debts. The Skills Funding Agency, the government team that supports further education in England, agreed with our view that there needed to be separate provision in Folkestone and Dover, and with the support of Matt Hancock, the Skills Minister, this has been secured. The government has also intervened to help clear the debts owing by K College, to put the new colleges on a much more secure financial footing.
Shepway Council has also been closely involved with this process and will be working with East Kent College as they invest in improving the further education offering to local students in our area. Their support has also been a key factor in finding this positive solution.
Unemployment in our area is twenty per cent lower now than it was in 2010, and local employers often tell me that they are looking for more skilled people to join their teams. The high quality, skills based training that is delivered by further education colleges is more important now than ever to meet this demand. It also offers excellent prospects for the students who complete these courses. I know that Graham Razey is keen to work closely with the local business community to ensure that East Kent College is offering courses that are relevant to the vacancies for skilled jobs that local employers are looking to fill.
Last Friday I was invited to speak at a special open day at The Workshop in Tontine Street in Folkestone, which provides specialised office and incubator space for young and start up businesses. Record numbers of people have started there own business over the last few years, but as is often the case, location can be a key factor in their success. The Workshop provides low cost space for start-up businesses, where you can rent desk space starting for as little as £60 per month. Speaking with some of the businesses based at The Workshop, one of the real benefits they have found is sharing ideas with other tenants in the building. This has helped them to develop their business in positive ways they had never considered before. You can find out more about The Workshop through its website www.theworkshopfolkestone.co.uk.