Three UHI colleges in the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides to merge next year

By Ross Hempseed

November 7 2022, 3:32 pm

UHI North Highland located in Thurso. Image: UHI.

Three colleges in the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides will merge next year, it has been announced.

The boards of UHI North Highland, UHI Outer Hebrides and UHI West Highland voted overwhelmingly for the merger, due to take place in August 2023.

The proposal has now been submitted to the Scottish Government and has the backing of local officials and organisations.

These include Alasdair Allan MSP for the Western Isles, Kate Forbes MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, and Maree Todd MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.

The three colleges have a combined student body of over 9,000 with more than 600 staff and 19 bases across the Highlands and Outer Hebrides.

Location of the 19 learning centres of UHI across the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides. Image: UHI.

College officials hope to create a more synchronized and sustainable learning organisation, with strong local connections across the region.

An enlarged organisation will also allow learning centres to respond to the issues facing specific areas and generate growth.

Across the Highlands and the Outer Hebrides, the future focus is net-zero, decarbonisation, renewable energy, engineering and advanced manufacturing.

These are rapidly growing industries in the region, and the enlarged college will be in a good place to respond to the need for talent.

‘Exciting and positive time for our three colleges’

Officials from the three colleges have also alleviated fears of job losses following the merger.

They confirmed there will be no compulsory redundancies, with staff keeping their current terms of employment.

Views on the merger were sought from staff, students and residents, with 75% of staff believing the merger would be beneficial.

UHI West Highland located in Fort William. Image: UHI.

Michael Foxley, chairman of the partnership board leading the merger programme, said: “This decision is testament to the great teamwork and positive energy of the executive team, merger programme team, board members, staff, and students.

“We have a clear vision for our merged college and have growth ambitions to develop our partnerships and create new learning and training opportunities that directly benefit our communities, encouraging more people to live, study and work across the North and West Highlands and Hebrides.

“This is a tremendously exciting and positive time for our three colleges, and we look forward to working collaboratively with all our stakeholders as we move towards a vesting date next year.”