Jobs to go and learners turned away: Dudley College to lose £1.4m funding
Up to 30 jobs are at risk and around 1,000 fewer places will be available to adult learners after a £1.4 million cut in funding to Dudley College.
College bosses today said they were 'exceptionally disappointed'.
The cuts come from the Government's Skills Funding Agency for the courses the college provides.
Health and social care courses as well as early years training delivered in the workplace like care homes and nurseries for employees are among the courses affected.
Others are giving skills to help people referred to the college from Jobcentres and the prison service.
Officials say the reduction in learners will result in a 'restructure' of college staff in the areas where the government has withdrawn funding.
A 30 day consultation period is now under way for staff informed of job losses, according to college bosses.
After this staff will be advised of their options once the funding cuts come into being at the start of August.
College principal Lowell Williams said they will be forced to turn away some learners which would hit disadvantaged adults and impact on the Midlands economy.
"Adult budget cuts have forced the college to make some difficult choices," he said.
"When central government puts us in a position where we have to plan our delivery within a smaller budget allocation we have no option but to reduce the training we offer."
Mr Williams added: "The college supports in the region of 10,000 adults every year on various programmes including full-time courses, apprenticeships, work place learning and part time courses.
"Following the cuts the total number of places will reduce to about 9,000."
He continued: "Impact on staffing is being given careful consideration and we are hopeful that some of the staff affected will be able to take up roles in other areas."
