Newton Rigg Ltd will ‘build it back better’ for Cumbria

As Askham Bryan College and the FEC today announce no successful bidder in the Strategic Review of options for the future of Newton Rigg College, Newton Rigg Ltd announce confidence in their alternative plans to purchase the assets and ‘build it back better’ for Cumbria once and for all.

As announced previously, Newton Rigg Ltd have prepared for today’s disappointing outcome of the Strategic Review having foreseen the difficulties in expecting a partner college to take on liabilities and financial uncertainties associated with any transfer of provision from Askham Bryan College. 

As such, Newton Rigg Ltd  have been entirely focused on a robust ‘plan B’ that will see their investment partners bid to purchase the assets outright and facilitate a truly sustainable solution for the future of land-based education in Cumbria.

Chairman Professor Andrew Cobb made the following statement today (9th February 2021): 

“It’s time to move beyond the Strategic Review. Our financial partners, who share our commitment to Newton Rigg’s future, will now seek to purchase the campus from Askham Bryan thus facilitating our 3-5-year strategy: A new dawn of Newton Rigg-led training and apprenticeships, the progressive development of a Rural Business School and Agri-Tech initiative, all forming a robust pathway to the incorporation of a new, independent, Cumbrian, Newton Rigg College. 

"We have recognised that a small portion of Newton Rigg’s surplus campus land will need to be released for employment purposes [ as foreseen in the local development plan ] and that in due course, and subject to planning approval, a further small portion of the land surrounding the campus will need to be developed for alternative use. These developments will not compromise Newton Rigg’s educational viability or scope, but will contribute to the finances which will be needed to enhance the facilities at Newton Rigg and ensure the sustainable hub of education and training that Cumbria needs.

"The FEC are aware of our proposals and we are in advanced discussions with the Education and Skills Funding Agency about support for our innovative ‘build it back better’ strategy for Newton Rigg. Our plans are fully in line with Government objectives on future skills training and apprenticeships. 

We know that today’s news will bring huge disappointment, this has been an incredibly challenging time for all involved with Newton Rigg. But we must now look to the future and ask Cumbria to have faith in the many stakeholders backing this ‘build it back better’ plan. We are also working very hard on potential solutions that we hope will enable existing learners to continue their land-based studies with access to the campus and farms. We will be sharing more news on this front as soon as possible. “