So what is FE+? It is the name given to an innovative partnership involving the six general further education colleges in the Tees Valley. Formed in June 2000, and officially launched in December of that year, FE+ is a collaborative approach to developing and delivering high quality education and training in the Tees Valley. Working closely together means that colleges in the Tees Valley FE sector have a greater opportunity to influence important regional and sub-regional developments.

The six colleges involved in the partnership are:

Cleveland College of Art & Design
Darlington College
Hartlepool College of Further Education
Middlesbrough College
Redcar & Cleveland College
Stockton Riverside College

The Principals from each of the above institutions make up the Board of FE+, which meets on a regular basis to discuss strategic issues affecting the further education sector.

Increasingly, key stakeholders in the region now recognise FE+ as:

The day-to-day running of the partnership is undertaken by FE+ Operations, which is currently staffed by the following individuals:

Shaun Place, Director of Operations
Heather McMahon, Support Officer

FE+ Operations is based at Hartlepool College of Further Education and has responsibility for implementing the agenda set by the Board of FE+. It provides dedicated secretarial support for the Board, carries out agreed project activities, identifies appropriate funding sources and attends relevant regional and sub-regional meetings, events and seminars.

The Economic Impact Report promotes the concept of further education as central to the success of economic regeneration, meeting the needs of employers and the raising of individual aspiration and achievement. The report is targeted at the key decision-makers and stakeholders in the sub-region and region; and aims to capitalise on the many success stories that characterise the work of the further education colleges across the Tees Valley.

Partner colleges are fully aware that in the current environment there will be occasions when individual institutions in the Tees Valley will compete for students and resources. However, on other occasions it is equally important for the colleges to work collaboratively to ensure that resources such as the Single Programme or European Structural Funds are maximised for the benefit of the FE sector in the Tees Valley. For example, approximately £5 million has been attracted into FE+ to support sub-regional activities, most notably the development and implementation of Foundation Degrees. All colleges have benefited as a result.

The FE+ board has established a sub-committee structure, which includes the following groups:

All the FE+ sub-committees operate under a ‘remit’ agreed with the FE+ board and are aimed at helping to deliver those key strategies identified by the board.