March/April 2026
PUBLIC CONSULTATION
on the proposed merger between Furness College
Blackpool and The Fylde College
Chairs’ Foreword
We are pleased to present our public consultation document on the proposed merger between Furness College and Blackpool and The Fylde College.
As chairs of these institutions, we believe this represents a significant opportunity for an exciting, shared future.
We are united by a strong commitment to delivering high-quality education that supports coastal communities and contributes to regional economic growth.
By combining our resources, expertise and sharing best practice, we can provide even greater opportunities and support for our students, employees and the people that we serve.
No final decision has been made and this consultation is a key part of informing the governing bodies’ consideration of the proposal.
We value the input of all our stakeholders and encourage you to take part in this process. Your views are crucial in informing our appraisal of this merger – and we thank you all for your support and interest.
Steve Fogg Meredydd David OBE
Chair of the Corporation Board Blackpool and TheFylde College
Chair of the Corporation Board Furness College
Locations
B&FC
1. Bispham Campus
Ashfield Road, Bispham, Blackpool FY2 0HB
2. Fleetwood Nautical Campus Broadwater, Fleetwood FY7 8JZ
3. Lancashire Energy HQ Squires Gate Lane, Blackpool, FY4 2QS
4. Multiversity (under construction) Cookson Street, Blackpool
5. University Centre Park Road, Blackpool, FY1 4E
Furness College
6. Channelside Campus Bessemer Way, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 2PJ
7. Sixth Form Campus
Rating Lane, Barrow-in-Furness, LA13 9LE
We Welcome Your Views
Blackpool and The Fylde College and Furness College are proposing to merge to form a new college group.
This will create a financially strong, responsive and ambitious Further Education (FE) organisation which will be best placed to serve the skills and training needs of coastal communities across Lancashire and Cumbria.
The purpose of this document is to outline the merger proposition and the expected benefits to students, employees, employers and the wider communities.
Both colleges welcome all views on this proposal and invite you to share your feedback as part of the public consultation – see page 13.
All responses will be carefully considered to inform the final merger proposal.
MORECAMBE
Who We Are Furness College
Furness College has a long-established history, dating back to 1874, founded to support the development of a skilled workforce aligned to the region’s engineering and industrial heritage.
Since its inception, education and skills development have remained central to local economic and community growth, with the college continuing to play an important role in meeting the needs of learners and employers across the Furness peninsula.
Today, Furness College operates as a multi-site further education (FE) provider, delivering a broad range of academic and technical programmes to young people and adults in Barrow-in-Furness and the surrounding area.
The college is also one of the largest local employers, with almost 300 colleagues working across teaching, professional and support roles.
Learning is delivered through a number of specialist faculties, each supported by dedicated facilities designed to reflect the subject area or vocational discipline being taught. This faculty-based model supports learning environments that are closely aligned to industry practice and the development of relevant technical and professional skills.
Furness College offers vocational provision across a wide range of sectors, including Engineering, Construction, Health, Early Years and Education, Catering and Hospitality, Travel and Tourism, Sport, Uniformed Services, Business, Computing and Digital, Hairdressing, Beauty Therapies and Automotive. In addition, it delivers a comprehensive A Level offer through its Sixth Form campus.
The college’s estate includes modern facilities that support progression into employment, apprenticeships and further or higher study.
Campuses incorporate industrystandard environments, including workshops, demonstration spaces, digital learning facilities and specialist teaching areas equipped to reflect current working practices. The college also works closely with local employers to ensure its curriculum remains responsive to labour market needs and regional priorities.
The college serves as the main sixth form option for secondary school learners in Barrow-in-Furness, with the majority of full-time 16–18 learners drawn from within a 10-mile radius.
Furness College currently enrols almost 900 full-time learners aged 16–18 and supports more than 300 apprentices. In addition, it delivers apprenticeship training to more than 600 apprentices employed by BAE Systems, reflecting the scale and longevity of this strategic partnership.
Adult provision includes over 300 learners engaged in evening classes, community learning, workplace-based professional training and Skills for Life programmes, including literacy and numeracy.
The college also offers higher education provision, with more than 100 students currently undertaking higher-level programmes.
Blackpool and The Fylde College (B&FC)
B&FC is the principal provider of technical and professional education on the Fylde Coast. Founded in 1892, it is the largest FE college provider of degree-level education in England with a well-established regional reputation. B&FC employs around 1,100 staff and has an annual turnover approaching £73 million.
Each year, more than 13,000 learners – including young people, adults and apprentices – choose B&FC as their learning destination, studying programmes from entry level through to Level 7.
B&FC’s estate spans a 12-mile stretch of the Fylde Coast, with main campus sites at Bispham, the University Centre, Lancashire Energy HQ and Fleetwood Nautical Campus. These include specialist facilities such as the Advanced Technology Centre and will expand significantly with the planned opening of the Multiversity development in Blackpool town centre in 2028.
The college is Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ (2025), with outstanding judgements in behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and adult learning programmes.
Its curriculum is aligned to the 15 occupational pathways set out in the National Skills Plan and is designed to meet the evolving needs of local, regional, national and global labour markets. The college is also a WorldSkills UK Centre of Excellence.
B&FC works in partnership to co-create programmes and opportunities with more than 1,800 employers across all sectors and delivers T Levels, Higher Technical Qualifications and apprenticeship standards.
It offers higher education supported by its own degree-awarding powers and achieved a triple-Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (2023) for student experience and outcomes. In the Class of 2025, 57% of graduates achieved First Class Honours, with 86% awarded a First or 2:1 overall. Among degree apprentices, 99% attained a First or 2:1.
B&FC invests around £1.3 million annually in employee development and is Great Place To Work-certified, with 76% of employees agreeing to this definition in 2025.
Benefits of the Proposed Merger
Our shared vision is to unite the very best strengths of Furness College and Blackpool and The Fylde College.
Students and Apprentices
A broader course offer across the group, increasing choice and the availability of different delivery models – and ensuring each student is on the right course.
Greater access to high-quality resources and support.
Further development and maintenance of facilities through a sustainable property strategy.
More opportunities for meaningful work experience through a shared and centralised network of employers and businesses.
Access to an expanded careers and course advice service to support lifelong learning.
Access to a more extensive programme of enrichment activities.
Both have a clear focus on producing strong provision and outcomes for the young people, apprentices, adult learners and employers they currently serve – and that will not change.
The new college group would work together to further unlock their potential and transform lives and communities through learning and partnerships.
The proposed merger aligns to the national policy direction for larger
Employees
The sharing of best practice and knowledge across a wider group to embed a culture of high performance and excellence.
Increased resourcing in teaching and learning facilities and resources.
New opportunities to develop skills and experience across a broader curriculum offer.
A wider peer support network, plus an enhanced skills and personal development programme drawing upon expertise from within both colleges.
A more financially stable and sustainable employer.
Strengthened leadership and governance focussed on ensuring the group is a great place to work where all employees feel valued and success is celebrated.
An employer that is better placed to respond and adapt flexibly to external opportunities and influences.
place-based college groups with the capacity and capability to meet the ambitions of its learners, stakeholders and communities.
With complimentary curriculum strengths – which include specialist provision and partnerships in the defence sector – this proposal can deliver long-term benefits across Lancashire and Cumbria.
A larger group offers additional resilience against funding challenges
Businesses and Employers
A centralised contact for regional education and training needs.
Increased capacity to respond to training needs and skills requirements.
A larger talent pipeline with more work ready young people, adults and graduates with the skills they need.
A wider pool of applicants for work experience and industry placement.
An enhanced ability to influence the region’s curriculum and skills offer.
Access to a wider range of specialised facilities for training and operational needs.
and enhances our ability to capitalise on new opportunities arising from profound economic change, government policy and devolution. This would also enable even closer alignment to local needs, improving social mobility and economic prosperity.
The proposed new college ‘umbrella’ group would see both colleges retaining their long-established, distinctive names, brand identities and curriculum specialisms to preserve the close links with the communities they serve.
The Community and Other Stakeholders
Wider learning opportunities and access to college facilities across the regions.
Best practice from both colleges to be used to strengthen our school partnerships.
Further development of existing partnerships with local universities to enhance the range of progression pathways into HE for greater choice and increased opportunity.
A strengthened capacity to bid for new initiatives and funding opportunities that benefit local communities.
Statutory Notice
Notice is hereby given by the Corporation of Furness College, Channelside, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2PJ in accordance with the Further Education Corporations (Publication of Proposals) (England) Regulations 2012, of the proposal for the transfer of the property, rights and liabilities to the Corporation of Blackpool and Fylde College, Ashfield Road, Bispham, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY2 0HB and the subsequent dissolution of the Corporation of Furness College.
Dissolution of the Corporation of Furness College is proposed in order that it may merge with Blackpool and Fylde College. The merger will create a strong institution delivering high-quality education and skills training for learners and employers across Lancashire and Cumbria.
The date proposed for the dissolution of the Corporation of Furness College is 1 August 2026.
All students at Furness College who have not yet completed their course of study by the date of the proposed dissolution will continue their education in the merged college on the same campus where they studied immediately prior to the dissolution of the Corporation of Furness College. This will affect approximately 900 full-time learners (16-18), 300 apprentices, 300 adult learners and 100 higher education students.
A copy of the consultation document on this proposal is available at www.furness.ac.uk or by writing to Executive Office, Furness College, Channelside, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2PJ. It will also be available at www.blackpool.ac.uk
The consultation period runs from 26 March 2026 to 30 April 2026.
All responses and representations must be received by the closing date through:
• completing the online response form at www.furness.ac.uk or www.blackpool.ac.uk
• or email to merger@furness.ac.uk or merger@blackpool.ac.uk
A summary of the feedback and the outcome will be published on 30 June 2026 on the Furness College and Blackpool and Fylde College websites.
A copy of the document will be available free of charge to any person who requests it.
Consultation Questions
Deadline: 30 April 2026
Please note that these questions can be answered using our online feedback form at: www.blackpool.ac.uk/merger and www.furness.ac.uk/merger
You may also email your responses to either: merger@blackpool.ac.uk or merger@furness.ac.uk
About you
Your name:
Your organisation (if applicable):
Postcode:
Please indicate which category(ies) best describe(s) you: Furness College student School Blackpool and The Fylde College student Other FE institution Parent, career or guardian HE institution Prospective student, parent, career or guardian Private training provider Furness College employee Employer or regional/local business Blackpool and The Fylde College employee Local government Trade Union representative Government body Other
Questions
1. Do you support the proposed merger? Yes No Unsure Comments:
2. Do you have any ideas or suggestions for how the merged college can improve its engagement with the community?
Privacy Statement
Any personal information you provide to Furness College and Blackpool and The Fylde College as part of this consultation process will only be used for the purposes of acknowledging your participation and/or responding to any queries you submit at your request.
Personal information will not be published as part of the outcome of the consultation – only anonymous comments and responses will be made public.
Any personal information you provide will be kept for six months and then destroyed in a secure manner.
You retain the following rights:
•The right to access your personal information, using the colleges’ Subject Access Request process
• The right to have inaccurate personal information changed
• The right to restrict the processing of your personal information
• The right to object to the processing of your personal information
• The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office in relation to how Furness College and Blackpool and The Fylde College have processed your data. You can do this at: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint
If you have any questions about the ways in which we use your personal information, please contact the relevant Data Protection Officer: (Furness College - DPO@furness. ac.uk | Blackpool and The Fylde College – datarequest@blackpool.ac.uk)
