Local MSP Welcomes Extra Funding From Scottish Government for Banff & Buchan College

Universities and colleges across Scotland are to receive an extra £100 million capital funding package, it was announced this week.

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed the news that Banff & Buchan College is to receive an additional £368,000 of funding from the Scottish Government.

Making the announcement, Cabinet Secretary for Education & Lifelong Learning Fiona Hyslop MSP said:

"This SNP Government is serious about supporting our colleges and universities. We are determined that Scottish money, held on account at Westminster, should be used to meet Scottish priorities. That is why we are choosing to invest these funds in Scottish universities and colleges.

"The investment, which is in addition to any settlement from the forthcoming spending review, will also support our plans to create a Smarter Scotland by helping to expand opportunities for Scots to succeed."

Stewart Stevenson MSP added:

“I am delighted that this additional funding for next financial year will come to Banff & Buchan College.

“The College, under the excellent leadership of Principal Robert Sinclair and his dedicated team, is proving itself an excellent innovator in delivery and many other fields so I am quite sure that this funding will be put to very good use indeed.”

Chair of the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council John McClelland said:

"This additional investment by the Scottish Government is very welcome. It will help the Council to accelerate its capital programme, address backlog problems and provide modern, sustainable facilities in our colleges and universities, which are attractive to students and businesses."

Howard McKenzie, Acting Chief Executive Association of Scotland's Colleges said :

"We welcome this announcement with vigorous enthusiasm as its timing is, from our perspective, almost perfect. This funding means that projects that have been awaiting funding for some time can now progress, and those that are 'next in line' can move further up the queue - benefiting everyone.

"Ultimately, however, the real winners from today's announcement will be Scotland's students who will see a direct benefit in terms of the facilities and equipment available to them.”