Burnley College bids for national technical excellence status

Burnley College is bidding to become one of the UK’s Technical Excellence Colleges for Advanced Manufacturing.

If successful in joining the network of specialist institutions designed to strengthen skills in key industries the status would deliver funding and jobs.
The bid is being backed by Burnley MP Oliver Ryan.

The Labour backbencher raised the issue in the House of Commons with junior education minister Josh MacAlister.

Mr Ryan told him: “The brilliant Burnley college has bid to become one of the UK’s four new advanced manufacturing technical excellence colleges.

“Its bid is the only one from Lancashire.

“It is backed by the North West Aerospace Alliance and the Northern Automotive Alliance, our big local world-class manufacturing employers, neighbouring colleges across the north-west and Yorkshire and—of course—me.

“Will the Secretary of State for Education do her best to look fondly on the bid, and will she back Burnley’s technical excellence?”

Mr MacAlister replied: “I thank you for your advocacy for a technical excellence college in his constituency. We have launched the applications for 19 of those.

“They get to the core of what this Labour Government are about, which is creating opportunities in every corner of this country.”

Mr Ryan MP said afterwards: “Bringing a Technical Excellence College to Burnley would transform opportunities in our town – for our young people today and for generations to come.

“We need to see better skills for our learners, more investment, and stronger resources for the industries that power our local economy.

“We’re not just flying the flag for Burnley – we’re flying the flag for the whole of Lancashire with this bid. We’ve also secured backing from across the North West and even Yorkshire.

“The process is competitive, but the prize is huge. Let’s back Burnley, why not us?”