Combined Authority CEO has 'absolute confidence' in York College 2025-2030 Strategic Plan

At the plan’s official launch in our on-site Cookery Restaurant this week, James Farrar (pictured main image) added that he believes the college is right at the heart of the drive to ensure a prosperous economical future for the region.

Mr Farrar is well-positioned to comment on the standard of College’s educational provision with his son enjoying a “fantastic” time on Campus as a current student and, addressing a gathering of invited guests at the launch, he said: “I think the college’s Strategic Plan sets its stall out in terms of how they want to work in partnership with industries in the region and the local authority.

“As a Combined Authority, we see the college as a strategic partner to help drive exceptional economic growth and create opportunities for people in the local community. Skills underpin everything we want to do and you have to listen to the community when you are training and educating young people to acquire the skills we desperately need. 

“I have a 17-year-old son who is having an absolutely fantastic time at York College, so I have seen first-hand the education and experience he is benefitting from here. As a local authority and college, we have a joined-up approach to ensure that the current and future generations of young people understand their potential and the opportunities that are out there for them. 

“The college is absolutely committed to that and has long been a part of the skills agenda in York and the wider North Yorkshire area. The Mayor (David Skaith) is incredibly proud of the college and its commitment to dovetail with our ambitions. 

“We have a region with huge opportunities, including the York Central project and lots of local businesses that continue to grow. I am absolutely confident about the economic future of York and North Yorkshire and that York College is well set to be at the heart of that future.”

The Strategic Plan has also been endorsed by the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce with more than 1,000 employers now collaborating with College in varied levels of partnership.

Its ultimate aim is to secure a reputation as the best Further Education college in the country over the next five years.

With that in mind, College have made a Brilliant Futures Pledge that is designed to ensure that students and apprentices will leave us as more rounded citizens who are better prepared for the world of work and ready to make a positive contribution to the economic growth of the region.

It means that, alongside their course qualification, students will, in addition, receive a gold, silver or bronze certificate, which will denote to employers the wider range of skills they have acquired at College.

As well as focussing on the needs of our students and apprentices, an emphasis will be placed on staff and our surroundings too and, following consultation with local companies and external partners, we intend to help overcome the skills shortages that many businesses are experiencing within their workforces nationwide.

Another aspiration is to become a key influencer of national education policy and to be positioned at the cutting edge of new technologies, with at least £10million of capital investment committed over the next five years to ensure College resources remain of a high quality and aligned to industry standards.

There are sustainability targets, too, with carbon emissions to be reduced by 50% from baseline measurements made in 2022.

York College & University Centre Principal & Chief Executive Ken Merry has been working on the Strategic Plan for 10 months and is determined to cement our reputation as a true anchor institution for York and North Yorkshire and a leading authority in skills provision.

He added: “Together with our partners, we will create the workforce of the future and develop the skills that our community needs to be successful in an ever-competitive employment market. By focussing on enhancing our reputation for being the leading provider of the skills training demanded by employers, we will equip our students and apprentices with the specific skills needed to meet their career aspirations.

“The 2025-2030 York College and University Centre Strategic Plan gives us the platform to ensure the communities we serve thrive and that York and North Yorkshire remains one of the best places in the country to live, study and work.”