Bedford College is set to benefit from a share of £38 million in government funding to repair and upgrade college buildings across the East of England.
The investment locally of £4,3662,206, is part of a wider £1.7 billion programme to modernise college estates across England by 2030.
Repairs planned
The funding will be used for maintenance work, including fixing leaking roofs, replacing broken windows and upgrading heating systems.
All 19 colleges in the region will receive a share of the funding, with individual allocations to be confirmed in the summer.
The government said allocations will range from around £6,000 for smaller institutions to up to £7 million for larger college groups.
Colleges will be able to decide how to spend the money based on local priorities.
Tracy Cowan, Chief Operating Officer at The Bedford College Group, said: “This investment is extremely welcome and will make a tangible difference to our students, staff and communities.
“By addressing vital maintenance issues and modernising our buildings across the Group, we are creating safer, more inclusive and more sustainable learning environments across all of our campuses.
“These upgrades will help remove barriers to learning, support skills development, and ensure our estates reflect the ambition, talent and pride of the communities we serve.”
Improving facilities
The government said the funding is intended to improve learning environments and reduce disruption to lessons.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: “The young people in these colleges are the engineers, bricklayers and designers of the future, and they and the dedicated staff teaching them deserve the best possible environment to learn and succeed.
“This £38 million investment will repair and modernise facilities across all 19 colleges in the East of England, giving young people the spaces they need to build the skills they need for good careers, helping to drive economic growth.”
Wider investment
The funding has been increased by £5 million compared to last year and forms part of a broader programme to support further education.
It follows a separate £570 million announcement to increase college capacity and train more skilled workers.
Update: This story was updated at 14:35 on 1 April 2026 to add a comment from Bedford College Group.
