Lib Dem MP candidate Claire Sully pledges support to Bridgwater & Taunton College to inspire the next generation.
Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Claire Sully has pledged her support behind Bridgwater & Taunton College to ‘inspire the next generation’.
On a recent visit to the Bridgwater campus, Claire met with college principal Andy Berry and Matt Tudor, director of strategy and partnerships, to learn more about the work at Bridgwater & Taunton College, as she furthered her promise to prioritise people ahead of the forthcoming General Election this year.
The college, the largest educational provider in Somerset, has been announced as the education and skills lead for the Gravity project, near Puriton, with the 616-acre Smart Campus set to place Bridgwater on the map as a UK leader in renewable energy solutions.
Last month it was revealed that Agratas, a subsidiary company of the Tata group, would build a gigafactory on a large section of the Gravity site, creating 4,000 jobs and providing a major boost to the local economy.
In addition to the investment from Agratas, £150 million has been earmarked for infrastructure improvements, including the provision of training for workers to fulfil the newly created jobs.
Claire asserted that local people, from the Bridgwater constituency, must benefit from the pledged investment in upskilling, and that Bridgwater & Taunton College will continue to be recognised as an upskilling and training hub for the county, region and across the country.
“Bridgwater & Taunton College are leaders in employment engagement, with a national reputation. They are the ideal educational provider to lead on skills training for the region,” Claire said.
“Bridgwater & Taunton College is supremely situated to be the focal point in offering the crucial services to help make the Gravity project flourish, while offering life-changing prospects for local residents.
“The college is a very positive partner to Gravity as part of the local development order and integrated skills charter and will be leading the skills task force for the campus as a whole.
“Even on the day I visited the campus, the principal had been advising an international government on skills training programmes. The college’s track record is impressive, and I would be proud to champion their work in Parliament as your new MP.
“The huge investment from the Gravity Smart Campus provides an unprecedented moment for us to offer prosperous opportunity for our local people and I am determined to make that happen. I believe it is crucial that we support young people and adults who are in deprived wards, improving their life chances.
“With the quality of education provided by Bridgwater & Taunton College, Bridgwater and surrounds will be the industry hub in supporting the UK’s clean energy growth agenda.”