A SENIOR Harlow councillor has expressed his concerns over the effects government cuts to education could have in the town.

Councillor Alastair Gunn asked Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of the
Council the following question.

“On 12 February, Harlow College took part in Mathematics Education
Innovation’s Further Education Maths Challenge, helping its students develop
the skills and confidence in maths they will need to excel in their exams and
future careers.

The winners and runners up will now be representing Harlow at the regional
stage of the competition, which will be held at Harlow College next month.

As well as joining me in wishing them luck, can the Leader set out what
Harlow Council is doing to support Harlow College in developing the STEM
skills our town and its next generation will need to grow, especially on green
skills as we transform Harlow’s housing, rebuild our town and respond to the
climate crisis?

Reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of the Council):

We are on a mission to secure investment for Harlow’s future to grow our
local economy, give Harlow residents the skills they need and create high-
wage high-skilled jobs for the future.

To that end, we work closely with Harlow College to support the development
of STEM skills locally. Some of the activity that has taken place over the past
couple of years include:

a) Provided £0.5m funding (via the Towns Fund) to support the delivery of
Harlow College’s Institute of Technology which has provided inspiring
facilities to support the delivery of engineering, health and social care and
science skills on the college campus.

b) Worked in partnership with the college and local employers to deliver a
“Let’s build a satellite” enrichment programme that has supported students
studying STEM subjects to run a project developing practical engineering
skills.

c) Through Section 106 employment and skills planning conditions linked
local developers with Harlow College to provide work experience
opportunities for students studying construction related courses as well as
deliver careers activities.

d) Through year 3 of the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) provided
funding to enable Harlow College to offer bursaries to adults that would
otherwise had to self-fund training courses. The bursaries were taken up
by local residents to study a range of courses including several STEM and
green skill related courses, such as Electric vehicle maintenance,
electrical installation, accountancy and nursing courses.

e) It is proposed that Year 4 UKSPF funding will be used to support Harlow
College to relocate and reopen its Construction Hub and as a result
deliver a range of skills required by local developers and construction
companies to support them to deliver the housing and regeneration
schemes across the town.

f) The Economic Development team have attended several careers events
at Harlow College, where they have highlighted the importance of STEM
skills in order to access the high value jobs available locally.

We will continue to do all we can to secure investment for Harlow’s future,
giving our young people the skills they need to access high-wage high-skilled
jobs, and I wish every one of them the very best of luck as they move forward
to the regional competition.

Supplementary question from Councillor Alastair Gunn:

Does the Leader share my concern with the Government cutting funding
which enables some of things he has listed?
Supplementary reply from Councillor Dan Swords (Leader of the
Council):

I do share his concern. The Government has also decided to cut the Shared
Prosperity Fund.