Colleges aim to 'combine strengths' through merger

The government will need to approve the deal

Students and their parents are being consulted on a potential merger of colleges in Leicestershire.

Bosses at Loughborough College and SMB College Group, which runs campuses in Coalville, Melton and Brooksby, said the deal would provide "significant benefits" for students and staff.

A consultation has been launched on the proposal.

Subject to government approval, the merger will take place on 1 August 2025.

Loughborough College's principal and chief executive officer Corrie Harris said: "This partnership represents a highly exciting proposition, promising significant benefits and opportunities for students, staff and employers throughout Leicestershire."

The college, rated good by Ofsted, has about 11,000 students on further and higher education courses studying A-levels, T-levels and other vocational subjects.

There are plans to create an "agri-tech" centre at the Brooksby Campus

The SMB group runs Melton Campus, Brooksby Campus and Stephenson Campus in Coalville.

It has about 3,500 students taking vocational courses including animal management, sport, construction and vehicle maintenance.

Group principal and chief executive Dawn Whitemore said the merger would "combine our strengths to enhance educational opportunities for our students and community".

The two organisations said they had been working with the Department for Education (DfE) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), which would need to approve any deal.

The colleges said the deal would strengthen their plans to invest £35m in creating an East Midlands Institute of Technology and digital skills hub at Loughborough College.

They also plan to create a new £20m "agri-tech" centre at Brooksby Campus.

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