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Our response to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) consultation on behalf of Department for Innovation University and Skills (DIUS) – 'A new university challenge’ – consultation on proposals for new higher education centres'

We welcome the Government’s commitment to increasing the skills of the UK's current workforce through the expansion of the provision of local and regional higher education.

We believe better skills can bring rewards for both employers and employees through greater choice of jobs, better pay and increased productivity.

However it's important that the new centres and training offered are delivered in ways that can help rural employees and residents to improve their skills and qualifications. We've offered to help HEFCE & DIUS to rural proof the assessment process for the proposed new centres.