Central Bedfordshire College & The Bedford College Group Merger Proposal

CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COLLEGE & THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP MERGER PROPOSAL

CONTENTS Introduction from the Chairs of Governors

3

The proposal

4

The vision

5

Key merger benefits

6

Why this partnership works

7

Benefits to learners, staff and employers

8

Proposed merger timelines

11

Public consultation: your views

12

Statutory notice

15

2

INTRODUCTION FROM THE CHAIRS OF GOVERNORS Thank you for your interest in the proposed merger between Central Bedfordshire College and The Bedford College Group.

Professor James Crabbe JP Chair of The Corporation Central Bedfordshire College

The governing bodies of both colleges are excited to share the proposed merger plans in this document, which details our intentions and the benefits to learners, staff, employers and the communities we both serve.

As well as bringing stability, certainty and major benefits, it will create the largest and most influential further education group in the south east midlands – consisting of colleges in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and across Northamptonshire.

Allan Schofield Chair of The Corporation The Bedford College Group

Your views on the proposed merger are welcomed. Please take a few minutes to read this document and respond to our consultation.

3

THE PROPOSAL The proposal is that Central Bedfordshire College should merge with The Bedford College Group on 1st February 2023. This will create a strategically important college group serving communities in Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, and Northamptonshire, with an income of over £76 million.

All learners at Central Bedfordshire College who have not completed their courses of study by the date of the proposed merger will continue with and complete their studies in their current locations.

For the governing bodies of the two colleges, the key consideration is the positive impact that this merger will have for current and future learners. It will secure a financially robust, viable and sustainable further and higher education curriculum offer.

Central Bedfordshire College’s main campus is in Kingsway, Dunstable, but it also has smaller centres across Dunstable and in Leighton Buzzard and Luton. The College provides further education, adult education, higher education and apprenticeships across Central Bedfordshire and Luton. It has a total of 3,461 learners, with 1,652 studying full-time, 1,809 studying part-time, 531 studying higher education courses and 116 apprentices.

Consultation on this proposal will run from 15th June 2022 until 27th July 2022.

The governing bodies of both colleges will review feedback received during the consultation process and the outcome of the consultation will be published online by the 27th September 2022.

In preparation for the merger, it is proposed that the Further Education Corporation of Central Bedfordshire College is dissolved on 31st January 2023, and all of the College’s properties, right and liabilities are transferred to The Bedford College Group immediately beforehand.

Details on how to respond to the consultation can be found at the end of this publication or on: www.centralbeds.ac.uk/about-us/merger or www.bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/ about/merger

THE MERGER WILL CREATE ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING COLLEGE GROUPS IN THE UK, WITH AN INCOME OF MORE THAN £76 MILLION AND 18,000 LEARNERS 4

THE VISION At the heart of the merger is the ambition to deliver first class education and training to meet the needs of learners, local businesses and the wider community. Our goals include:

• Providing excellent teaching and learning

• Significantly contributing to economic

for all

development and regeneration through close working with key stakeholders, e.g. employers, local councils and the Local Enterprise Partnership

• Ensuring positive course and employment outcomes

• Meeting the skills and training needs across

• Providing opportunities for all as an

the communities served

inclusive organisation

• Increasing progression opportunities,

• Offering enhanced opportunities for

broadening and enhancing the higher education and skills options

learners, employers, communities and staff to bring about a number of operational benefits.

5

KEY MERGER BENEFITS The benefits of the merger are wide and far reaching and will have a positive impact on learners, local businesses and the wider community.

• Increased influence through the creation

• Maintenance of Central Bedfordshire

of a single, clear, major strategic educator in the south east midlands

College’s unique features and brand to ensure the continuity of teaching and learning for learners, staff and employers

• Greater capacity to engage nationally and

• Greater learner and employer choice

regionally with partner and stakeholders to bring increased benefits to local communities

through a wider range of education and training opportunities and progression routes, combining strengths, talent pool of staff, resources and facilities, and building on established specialisms

• Improved financial stability, ensuring and

enhancing the continuity of local provision and a cost-effective infrastructure to deliver maximum returns on public investment

• Supporting the government’s priorities

• Stronger capacity to invest in developing

for enhancing skills and training.

new curriculum provision to meet national and local priorities, such as apprenticeships and higher level technical and professional qualifications

6

WHY THIS PARTNERSHIP WORKS A strategic review earlier this year identified two strong further and higher education providers in the area who would make good partners. The Board considered proposals from these two organisations and chose The Bedford College Group as their preferred partner.

institutions including Tresham College in 2017 and Shuttleworth College in 2009.

The Bedford College Group’s financial performance is rated as Outstanding and over the past two decades it has maintained Ofsted grades of Good or Outstanding.

In addition, The Bedford College Group won the title of Further Education (FE) College of the Year 2020 at the national Times Educational Supplement (TES) Further Education awards.

THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP The Bedford College Group is a consistently high performing college, currently serving communities in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire.

The merger will allow Central Bedfordshire College to immediately benefit from the partnership with The Bedford College Group to achieve long term financial security and excellence in the quality of provision.

Over the last five years the Group has focused on growing provision to meet local needs and is now the largest provider in the region for 16-18 learners, apprenticeships, higher education and adult education.

It will create a single, major educator in Central Bedfordshire and it will be the largest in the SEMLEP area, having significant strategic importance and scale.

The Group has extensive experience of successful mergers with other training

7

BENEFITS TO LEARNERS

COMBINED COMPLEMENTARY STRENGTHS WILL INCREASE THE RANGE OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRESSION ROUTES FOR LEARNERS, PARTICULARLY INTO HIGHER EDUCATION.

IT WILL CREATE AN ORGANISATION WITH AN INCOME OF MORE THAN £76 MILLION EACH YEAR, WHICH WILL ENABLE MORE INVESTMENT IN LEARNER RESOURCES AND FACILITIES – ENHANCING THE LEARNER EXPERIENCE AND ENSURING THE CONTINUITY OF LOCAL PROVISION.

DELIVERY OF THE CURRICULUM OFFER WILL BUILD ON ESTABLISHED SPECIALISMS PROVIDING A DIVERSE RANGE OF COURSES TO LEARNERS ACROSS ALL CAMPUSES. 8

BENEFITS TO STAFF

THE BEDFORD COLLEGE GROUP HAS A STRONG TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL MERGERS BRINGING TOGETHER THE STAFF FROM TWO INSTITUTIONS WITHOUT ANY REDUNDANCIES.

COMBINING THE TALENTED POOLS OF STAFF, AND THE EXCELLENT FACILITIES AND RESOURCES, WILL WIDEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING AND INVESTMENT IN CONTINUED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. 9

BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS

GREATER CAPACITY TO ENGAGE NATIONALLY AND REGIONALLY WITH PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS WILL BRING GREATER BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS IN THE LOCAL AREA.

STRONGER LINKS TO DEVELOP PROVISION TO MEET NATIONAL AND LOCAL PRIORITIES TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY IN SOUTH EAST MIDLANDS. 10

PROPOSED MERGER TIMELINE The proposed timetable for the merger is set out below:

15th June – 27th July 2022

27th September 2022

31st January 2023

1st February 2023

Consultation period

Consultation outcomes published

Dissolution of the Corporation of Central Bedfordshire College

Central Bedfordshire College merges with The Bedford College Group

11

PUBLIC CONSULTATION Your views about the proposed merger between Central Bedfordshire College and The Bedford College Group are important and you can give your feedback in a number of ways:

The summary can also be provided by post. To request a copy please send a stamped addressed envelope (A4) to the same address as below.

• Complete an online survey by following

the links on the colleges’ websites at: www.centralbeds.ac.uk/about-us/merger or www.bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/ about/merger

Merger Consultation Marketing & Communications Department The Bedford College Group Cauldwell Street Bedford MK42 9AH

• Download a pdf version of the survey

document (see website addresses above) and send this either by email or post to the address opposite.

Email: communications@bedford.ac.uk

• Alternatively, send other responses and representation by email or post, to the address opposite.

Data privacy As part of this consultation you do not need to provide any personal data unless you would like us to contact you to discuss the proposed merger or would like a receive a copy of the results for the consultation. Any personal data you provide will only be used for the purposes detailed above and will be deleted in line with our privacy policy www. bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/privacy-policy Your personal details will not be published as part of our report on the public consultation.

The formal Statutory Notice can be found on page 15. The formal consultation period runs from 15th June 2022 to the 27th July 2022.

All responses and representations must be received by the closing date.

The governing bodies of each college will publish an online summary of the consultation and its outcome by the 27th September 2022 on their websites.

12

YOUR VIEWS 1. About you. Which of the categories below best describes you?

Student

Local resident

Staff

Education provider

Parent or Carer

Local/national government

Employer

Other Please specify

2. Do you support Central Bedfordshire College’s proposal to merge with The Bedford College Group?

Yes

No

Unsure

Please use this space to provide any further details on the reasons for your answer:

3. We would like to share good practice across the two colleges in order to further enhance the quality of the student experience. What particular aspects of sharing good practice would you like to be considered?

4. What areas, services or provision would you like to see prioritised as part of the proposed merger?

13

5. Do you think any group, including students and staff, would be adversely affected by the proposed merger?

Yes

No

Unsure

Please use this space to provide any further details on the reasons for your answer:

6. Please use this space to add any additional comments or questions relevant to the plans within the merger consultation document or to expand on any of your previous answers:

7. Please provide your contact details if you wish us to get in touch to discuss our proposals further: First name

Last name

Organisation (if applicable) Email Address Contact telephone number 8. Would you like to receive a copy of the results of the consultation?

Yes

No

(If yes, please provide your email address so that we can send this to you) Email address Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback.

14

STATUTORY NOTICE INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FURTHER EDUCATION (PUBLICATION OF PROPOSALS) (ENGLAND) REGULATIONS 2012 Statutory notice: Further and Higher Education Act 1992 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Further Education Corporation of Central Bedfordshire College, Kingsway, Dunstable LU5 4HG, in accordance with the Further Education Corporations (Publication of Proposals) (England) Regulations 2012, SI 2012 No.1157, of the proposal to merge with the Further Education Corporation of Bedford College (known as The Bedford College Group), Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AH on 1st February 2023. It is proposed that all Central Bedfordshire College’s properties, rights and liabilities will be transferred to Bedford College immediately before the Further Education Corporation of Central Bedfordshire College is dissolved on 31st January 2023.

Education will continue at Central Bedfordshire College after this merger is proposed to take place, and current and prospective students will continue their courses of study as planned.

For further information about the proposed merger and the benefits it will offer to students, staff, employers and the wider community, and to access a copy of the consultation document, please visit www.centralbeds.ac.uk/about-us/merger The consultation period runs from 15th June 2022 to 27th July 2022. The results of the consultation will be published no later than 27th September 2022 on the Central Bedfordshire College and The Bedford College Group websites.

15

North Northamptonshire Tresham College Corby

Tresham College Kettering

West Northamptonshire

Tresham College Wellingborough

Bedford National College for Motorsport

Bedford College Shuttleworth College

Central Bedfordshire Central Bedfordshire College Luton

Central Bedfordshire College Leighton Buzzard

Luton Central Bedfordshire College Dunstable

Central Bedfordshire College Dunstable Bedfordshire LU5 4HG

The Bedford College Group Cauldwell Street Bedford MK42 9AH

Tel: 01582 477 776 www.centralbeds.ac.uk

Tel: 0345 658 8990 www.bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk