Mayor Visits Cambridge Regional College Huntingdon to Explore Skills and Growth Initiatives

Mayor Visits Cambridge Regional College Huntingdon to Explore Skills and Growth Initiatives

Cambridge Regional College (CRC) welcomed Mayor Paul Bristow of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, to its Huntingdon campus this week to showcase the college’s work in supporting skills development and regional growth.

The visit provided an opportunity for Mayor Paul Bristow and Rob Bridge to see first-hand the wide-ranging educational and training programmes offered by CRC, which educates over 4,000 16–19-year-old students, 650 apprentices, and 7,000 adult learners annually and is recognised for its strong alignment with employers’ skills needs.

During the visit, the delegation explored CRC’s innovative initiatives, including the Youth Trailblazer programme, T Level Early Years students, Skills Bootcamp successes, and the recently established Construction Hub. These initiatives provide young people and adults with vital hands-on experience, ensuring they are ready for life, work, and careers in key industries.

The Huntingdon Campus, in particular, demonstrated the impact of targeted investment. Since merging with Cambridge in 2017, CRC has invested around £4 million in Huntingdon, creating a vibrant learning environment offering programmes in construction, health and social care, early years,  hair and beauty and supported learning. As well as specialised adult education to support retraining and upskilling across forklift and logistics, retrofit, renewable technologies, teaching assistants, digital skills, ESOL, English and maths and counselling. Apprenticeships in electrical installation and carpentry have recently been added to expand local opportunities.

Mark Robertson, Principal and CEO, Cambridge Regional College:
“The Huntingdon Campus has gone from strength to strength over the last 9 years. With growing enrolments, we’re supporting young people to train for careers in the construction industry, health and social care, childcare and hair and beauty industries through vocational study programmes, T Levels and apprenticeships.

“Our adult education offering is supporting upskilling and employability in the region and it’s been great to be able to share with the Mayor and CEO of the CPCA some of the successes our learners have experienced though CPCA funded initiatives such as the Skills Bootcamps, retraining and gaining great jobs and a new career path as a result of the adult education opportunities provided. We are delighted the CPCA recognise skills development as an important key to prosperity in the region, to the fulfilment of the CPCA Growth plan. and that CRC is identified as a key partner in delivering success for the region ”    

CRC works closely with over 1,000 local employers, as well as regional bodies including the Chamber of Commerce, Cambridge Ahead, and Make UK, to ensure courses meet the evolving needs of the workforce. The college also provides specialised higher education and professional qualifications and pathways on to higher education , helping adults upskill or reskill in response to local economic demand.

Mayor Paul Bristow said, “It was inspiring to see the breadth and quality of CRC’s work. The college is clearly equipping young people and adults with the skills needed for the future, supporting both employment and regional growth.”

The visit concluded with a discussion on future opportunities for collaboration, including potential funding for adult courses and further alignment with regional growth and employment strategies.