Thursday January 15th 2026
Principal of Scottish Borders College Pete Smith
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
The principal of Scottish Borders College says an extra 10 per cent in funding will enable the educational establishment to move from “crisis towards stability”.
The Scottish Government announced the boost for colleges nationwide as part of its draft budget this week.
The amount equates to a total of around £70 million across revenue and capital budgets.
Borders College principal Pete Smith said the announcement came after years of funding falling in real terms.
He said the additional investment provided an opportunity for the college to “move from crisis towards stability and greater sustainability”.
Mr Smith, who took up his role in September 2022, said: “I welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to provide additional investment in college core funding, recognising the vital position our colleges play in our communities, reducing poverty and driving economic growth. This funding offers a real opportunity for colleges to move from crisis towards stability and greater sustainability.
“While that stability is of course vital, for Borders College and the Scottish Borders region, we also need growth. I will continue to make the case to secure additional funded student places for the Borders to support our growing demand and enable us to deliver on the skills needs of our new and existing employers, to widen access for our communities and to develop the next generation of Borders entrepreneurs.
“After years of funding falling in real terms, this increase will help mitigate some of the sector’s immediate financial pressures in the next academic year, and we hope this marks a step-change in the approach to investing in our colleges.
“We look forward to working collaboratively with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Funding Council on more detail around the capital allocations, so that we can collectively deliver a truly sustainable skills system in a modern fit for purpose college estate.”
Borders College offers a wide range of learning opportunities and courses across various disciplines.
It has a reputation for delivering industry-relevant training programmes.
The curriculum is designed in collaboration with employers and industry experts to ensure students acquire the skills and knowledge required in the job market.
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