Colleges face funding shortage

The problem arises from a spending cap, which will only provide funding for up to 748 guided learning hours (GLH) of provision per student. The level 1 and 2 Diplomas are currently delivered over one year at 600 GLH, but the essential food preparation and cooking courses, delivered alongside the food and drink service, take the fundings above the cap. People 1st, who has supported the development of the Diplomas and has been trying to lift the cap over the past six months, has speeded up the development of a new food and drink service qualification which, when delivered alongside the Diploma at levels 1 and 2, will fit within the spending cap. The significance of the restriction impacts the level 3 qualification, which is currently being piloted over two years. Feedback shows that students are dropping out when it is delivered over two years, wasting talent, time and public funding, but a proposal to deliver the course over a year is impacted by the 900 GLH of provision needed per student, taking it above the cap. Martin-Christian Kent, research and policy director at People 1st, said: "The Professional Cookery Diplomas have been developed with industry support, and have the backing of chef guilds and the best colleges. The funding cap undermines government's demand-led education system when qualifications that have designed by employers to meet a critical skills need, cannot be delivered. He added: "We urgently need the government to take forward its responsibilities within the National Skills Strategy and remove the cap for level 3 to ensure that this critical qualification can be delivered."