The pair met with Anne Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of West College Scotland, to discuss the strategy, and afterwards praised the college’s future ambitions for both the Greenock campus and the wider organisation. They welcomed the opportunities the college provides for the local community and even enjoyed firsthand the skills of hospitality students who are gearing up for the Christmas service.

Francesca Brennan and Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP also discussed the challenges facing the college sector, set against a backdrop of a 20% real-terms funding reduction since 2021–22, as highlighted by Audit Scotland.

Commenting after the visit, Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP said:

West College Scotland’s Greenock Campus is a great community asset. The college has brilliant ambitions to deliver more opportunities for those in the local area.

Staff and students are working hard to deliver against a challenging backdrop. And it was lovely to experience the skills of the hospitality students first hand!

West College is having an incredible impact on the local area, but the challenge of funding cannot be underestimated.

They need flexibility in their funding to be empowered to maximise their potential.

Holyrood candidate Francesca Brennan commented: 

“I’ve had links with the college all my life - visiting while at high school, linking with students and lecturers when I worked in libraries, gaining my food hygiene certificate for my job in a local fruit and veg shop. 

It is so important to our community here in Inverclyde now and for the future. That’s why the under-investment in the college sector is such a cause for concern right across Scotland. 

There are some great opportunities ahead for Greenock and Inverclyde with the Pride in Place funding for Greenock and the recently-announced £20 million for Inchgreen coming through from UK government. 

We have a college right here in Greenock that can equip our community with skills and partnerships that will lead to good quality jobs but the FE sector needs proper funding and right now that just isn’t happening.

Anne Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of West College Scotland, said:

“I was delighted to welcome Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP and Francesca Brennan to our West College Scotland, Greenock campus, this morning to discuss our new strategy.

 Colleges such as West College Scotland are vital anchor institutions in our local communities, and we are the skills engines of our regional economies.

We are essential to the Scottish Government’s ambitions of eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, tackling the climate emergency, and ensuring high quality and sustainable public services.

We are determined to work collaboratively with our local councils, learners, staff, stakeholders and industry partners to ensure that we deliver high quality learning experiences and empower our people and communities to thrive.