A leading business organisation representing the county is calling for continued funding of the further education sector.

The appeal, by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (Selep) coincides with National Colleges Week which runs until October 19.

A key part of Selep's role across the region is to work in partnership with businesses and education providers to ensure a suitably skilled workforce is available to support economic growth throughout the area.

It has now sent a letter to chancellor Philip Hammong and apprenticeships and skills minister Anne Milton, highlighting the LEP’s support for colleges and the need for continued funding of the FE sector.

Adam Bryan, managing director of Selep, said: “In our letter to ministers, we have made clear our growing concern at the national disinvestment in education and skills training for both 16 to 18-year-olds and adults.

“As our skills strategy sets out, further education participation and apprenticeship take up has declined. It is essential that we have a well-funded and effective skills system in place to train, upskill and retain adults and young people at a time when there is likely to be a need for much greater self-sufficiency in UK skills.

“National Colleges Week is the perfect time to urge Government to with colleges and ourselves and other LEPs to address underfunding and to tackle challenges such as tutor shortages.

“This will help us deliver against the Government’s industrial strategy and achieve the very best for our communities and employers.

“Across our geography we have invested more than £40million in more than 30 further education capital projects. Through our recently launched five-year skills strategy, we are developing proposals to tackle tutor shortages and exploring solutions such as virtual reality and online learning to respond to challenges.

“Selep is highly committed to our college network and is clear on their importance.”