The Combined Authority is pleased to announce a new Skills Capital Grant Programme for St Neots and East Cambridgeshire. The £4.5m grant scheme is open to providers of Further Education and Adult Education to secure capital funding that will enable the delivery of provision within St Neots and East Cambridgeshire, therefore tackling the identified cold spots of FE provision in both places.

The Capital investment can be used for:

• Capital expenditure linked to the delivery of skills provision and will include
• Acquisition, upgrade and maintenance of physical assets such as property, technology, or equipment
• Renovation or refurbishment of an existing building
• Purchase of equipment or kit to enable and enhance learning. Note that this will also include software and licensing expenditures.

In order to:

• Provide local and accessible, high-quality skills provision
• Deliver employability courses that develop and promote the use of transferable skills. Specifically for young people who are NEET and adults who are economically inactive.
• Deliver skills provision that is aligned to key sectors where skills supply is low and vacancy numbers are high
• Deliver skills provision that can support local residents to upskill, re-skill or develop new skills that will lead to positive outcomes such as progression to further education, an apprenticeship or a job.
• Widen education access and increase levels of participation

Applications must be submitted via email. Please email skillscapitalgrant@uk.gt.com with your completed submission by 18:00 on Friday, 21 March 2025.

Skills Capital Funding for ‘FE Cold Spots’

Within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, prospective learners (aged 16+) in some areas face challenges accessing Further Education (FE). These are known as FE cold spots, where limited educational opportunities, resources, and access to learning facilities create barriers to learning. Areas like St Neots and East Cambridgeshire are particularly affected. Students in these regions often struggle with:

Lack of Local Learning Facilities: We need to see an increase in good, accessible learning facilities in St Neots and East Cambridgeshire so that more people can access post-16 learning.

Geographical Barriers: By offering an increase in good accessible learning facilities, this helps to break down the barrier of traveling to learn, so that people can access provision closer to home or work.

Addressing these cold spots, especially in St Neots and East Cambridgeshire is vital for education equity and future skills development. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) is committed to reducing these barriers by investing in learning facilities, increasing access, and collaborating with local businesses to provide relevant skills training.

FE Cold Spots in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

St Neots and East Cambridgeshire are key areas identified as FE cold spots. These areas lack sufficient local FE provision for 16-18year olds and adults aged 19+, meaning many learners face long travel times to access education. The CPCA has already identified areas to improve:

Feasibility Study: Results suggest that building large college style campuses in these areas may not be viable, but expanding existing venues or creating smaller, specialised hubs could fill the gap.

Identified Needs: There’s a high demand for facilities that could support training in health, social care, and work-readiness,

Planned Developments: Expanding current facilities would be preferable and more sustainable.

Funding & Goals: The CPCA has committed to boosting the region’s skills infrastructure and meeting the growing population’s needs through an £4.8m Skills Capital fund