£100,000 puts college at the digital cutting edge

OLDHAM College has secured a prestigious cash boost to propel it into a hi-tech digital stratosphere.

The Edge Foundation awarded the college £100,000 to support the opening of a new digital and creative career centre.

Not only is it one of a handful of education establishments in England to receive the funding — including being one of only two northern recipients, the other being Career Academies UK, in Liverpool — it was also awarded the most.

Edge — an independent education charity — set up its Innovation and Development Fund in its 10th anniversary to support innovation in technical, practical and vocational education.

Oldham College will use the money to instal world-class techniques and equipment to “inspire creators, makers and enablers of future technological change”.

Principal Alun Francis said: “Our major redevelopment programme is transforming our campus into a 21st century learning hub and the Digital and Creative Career College is a vital part of this.

“The funding from Edge has helped us to revitalise vocational education in the digital sector; bringing together creative and technical skills to meet the demands of the digital economy.”

To qualify for the funding the college to had meet Edge’s specific six steps for change criteria and address issues such as the UK skills shortages and develop employer engagement.
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