We are disappointed that a very small number of our staff members (4%) recently voted that they would be prepared to take strike action over pay. We respect their right to take action within the channels that are open to them, and if members decide to take action we will work to ensure any potential disruption will be kept to a minimum and ensure our students are not impacted by any action taken.

Despite a decrease in funding across the whole FE sector in recent years, we continue to focus our resources on our goal, which is to support our students to achieve their full potential, gaining the qualifications and experience to equip them for future employment. We continue to lobby hard for Bridgwater & Taunton College and for the FE sector as a whole, for fairer funding. This includes collaboration with representatives from across the FE sector including discussions with senior officials at the Department for Education and the Treasury to ensure they are fully aware of the impact of decreased funding in this vital sector.

In the meantime, we remain one of the most successful Colleges in the FE sector, as reflected in the achievements of our students. We seek external funding where possible to support investment in our facilities and resources, ensuring our students continue to benefit from the BTC Advantage, with access to the best resources, learning and enrichment experiences that we can provide. Our staff members are crucial to this success and we recognise their professional focus on our student experiences, despite financial pressures.