Association of Colleges

AoC's Funding team acts on behalf of the 352 Colleges in England to do the following:

Represent College interests to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and its shadow successor bodies, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS), the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and other organisations:

• To make it easier for Colleges to access government funding, raise fee income and secure other funding
• To raise awareness of College activities in delivering education and training to individuals and employers
• To raise awareness of the costs of these activities
• To facilitate good policy making at the point of origin
• To argue the case for reduction of the administrative burden and minimise regulation of successful Colleges

Support effective College financial management through:

• Organising and assisting the national meetings of the College Finance Directors Group (CFDG)
• Regularly sending pertinent information to Finance Directors through briefings
• Organising the annual College Finance Directors conference (which takes place annually in June)
• Regularly attending regional CFDG meetings and specialist groups
• Managing the College Financial Reporting Project
• Organising useful seminars for finance staff in conjunction with AoC Management Services, LSC and others
• Holding induction days for Finance Directors who are new to the sector
• Assisting funding issues

Represent Colleges at DBIS, DCSF, LSC and other meetings, for example:

• LSC meetings on new models of funding, efficiency and data collection
• LSC meetings on audit and regulation
• UKBA immigration group meetings 
• Student Loan Company loans and bursaries group
• LSC Sector Accounting Policy Group
• Regular one-to-one meetings with senior DBIS, DCSF and LSC managers
• UKBA meetings on changes to migration rules

Inform Colleges of key funding, finance, accounting, tax and other decisions through:

• Fortnightly briefings (Funding and Finance)
• Other AoC events
• Attendance at quarterly regional CFDG and AoC meetings
• Telephone assistance, explanations through e-mail, etc

Represent and negotiating on behalf of Colleges with third party organisations:

• Copyright Licensing Association
• Educational Recording Agency
• Construction Industry Training Board

Contact details:

Julian Gravatt, Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Research and Development
Cheryl Price, PA to Assistant Chief Executive and Director of Research and Development
Robert Russell, Financial Development Manager
Geeta Patel, Research Officer
Tel. 020 7034 9900