City College Norwich is at the heart of phenomenal educational provision, providing support for those who are seeking vocational qualifications, opportunity, and a space to learn and grow.

I had a fantastic day visiting the college, shown around by Principal Jerry White and members of his leadership team. I saw what the college has to offer in the way of truly forward thinking, innovative learning by visiting classes in the areas of digital technology, construction, and engineering. The students were engaged, switched on, and so invested in their courses.

I visited the state-of-the-art ACE centre (‘Advanced Construction and Engineering’ centre). Opened only a week ago and a beneficiary of Town Deal funding, ACE is dedicated to making sure that students keep ahead of new technologies, all with an eye on a low-carbon future. This is both an amazing offer for students in terms of opportunities for their own learning and development, and will also support the development of infrastructure and jobs in both Norwich and the wider region.

In the context of funding cuts to education, I believe it is so important that we fight for the preservation of our colleges, which do not receive the level of funding afforded to institutes with university status. These are vital sites of learning that should be accessible to all those students in Norwich who seek further education.

Having a strong further education offering benefits both young people in Norwich today, and those future generations who are yet to come.