WEST College Scotland needs more funding to help build a local workforce which can benefit from the new £20 million investment in Inchgreen, an MSP hopeful has said.
Greenock councillor Francesca Brennan, who is the Labour candidate for Greenock and Inverclyde at next year's Scottish Parliament election, recently held talks with the new chief executive Anne Campbell about the college's future strategy.
Afterwards Councillor Brennan praised Ms Campbell for her ambition for the college - while warning that the 20 per cent cut in funding in the last four years has had a massive impact on further education locally.
Ms Campbell, a former director of the Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce, was appointed as the college's principal and chief executive in April.
Councillor Brennan said: "I’ve had links with the college all my life - visiting while at high school, linking with students and lecturers when I worked in libraries, gaining my food hygiene certificate for my job in a local fruit and veg shop.
"It is so important to our community here in Inverclyde now and for the future. That’s why the under-investment in the college sector is such a cause for concern right across Scotland.
"There are some great opportunities ahead for Greenock and Inverclyde with the Pride in Place funding for Greenock and the recently-announced £20 million for Inchgreen coming through from UK government.
"We have a college right here in Greenock that can equip our community with skills and partnerships that will lead to good quality jobs but the FE sector needs proper funding and right now that just isn’t happening.”
Ms Campbell said: "I was delighted to welcome Francesca Brennan to our Greenock campus to discuss our new strategy.
"Colleges such as West College Scotland are vital anchor institutions in our local communities, and we are the skills engines of our regional economies.
"We are essential to the Scottish Government’s ambitions of eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency, and ensuring high quality and sustainable public services.
"We are determined to work collaboratively with our local councils, learners, staff, stakeholders and industry partners to ensure that we deliver high quality learning experiences and empower our people and communities to thrive.”
In response to Councillor Brennan's comments, the Scottish Government's Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said: “Ministerial colleagues and I are determined to work closely and collaboratively with colleges to ensure the sector’s success and sustainability, as colleges navigate the numerous challenges facing the sector.
“Compared to last year, Scottish Funding Council allocations provide a 2.6 per cent college sector increase in teaching funding for 2025-26 and an increase of almost 5 per cent in capital maintenance. West College received an increase of almost 3 per cent in their Teaching Grant funding recognising the vital role colleges play in communities.
“In November we confirmed support for the college support staff pay deal that was reached between trade unions and the sector by providing an extra £1.69 million this financial year, followed by an additional £3.3 million next financial year.”
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