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Harrogate College faces £90,000 cut to adult skills budget

Monday, 21 July 2025 07:55

Harrogate College on Hornbeam Park Avenue.

Harrogate College is set to lose £90,000 from its adult skills budget.

It follows a funding decision by the newly formed York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The authority, led by Labour Mayor David Skaith, introduced the reduction amid wider devolution of powers from central government.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon raised the issue in Parliament, expressing concern about the impact on training and job opportunities in the area.

Speaking in the Commons, he said:

“The cuts to Harrogate College’s adult skills budget by Mayor Skaith highlight a fundamental problem: devolving responsibility without providing the funding to match simply doesn’t work.

“When devolved authorities are handed new powers but not the resources to deliver, it’s our communities that pay the price.”

“This funding helps people retrain, return to work, and build better futures. Slashing it risks cutting off opportunity for those who need it most.

“Harrogate College should be supported to thrive, not forced to scale back because of inadequate funding.”

The adult skills budget helps support training and retraining for local residents seeking new qualifications or career changes.

The funding change comes after Gordon’s previous campaign to secure a £20 million government investment for redeveloping Harrogate College.

That funding has now been confirmed, with plans in place to modernise the campus and expand educational offerings.

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