Slough needs a university, council leader says

Slough has not had a university campus in almost 15 years

A commitment to bring a university back to a town in 2024 has been reiterated by a council leader.

Dexter Smith from Slough Borough Council said building a higher education centre would help plug a skills gap in the area.

The closure of the Slough campus of the former Thames Valley University was announced in 2009.

The University of Reading is currently the only university in Berkshire, with more than 23,000 students.

But Mr Smith told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the county "contributed seven percent to the national economy".

"There is a need to upskill the local population so that they get the good jobs that are in Slough," he said.

The council leader added that a new university could include training in the creative arts, nursing, business and digital technology - which he believes would provide key skills needed for the town's economy.

"We are talking to some local employers about some of the digital skills requirements that there are," he said.

"We are fairly confident that there would be take-up."

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