SOMERSET Skills & Learning looks set to close six centres and make more than 50 staff redundant after being left with a shortfall in their funding, despite a government U-turn.

The education provider was hit with a 97 per cent funding cut in September which would have meant imminent closure for the organisation, however, following a campaign to lobby MPs and ministers, and in line with a u-turn from the ESFA on funding to private providers, SS&L was given 75 per cent of it's required funding as 'transitional' funds. However, this still left the company almost £1 million short.

Chief Executive, Susie Simon-Norris said: "We have had to make some very tough decisions over the last few weeks in an effort to keep SS&L a going concern. A radical restructure has been proposed and this would sadly mean losing almost a third of our staff and closing six centres to reduce our overheads. We have no choice - the funding cuts have left us in a very difficult position."

"We also need to drastically reduce our delivery of community learning courses, a terrible blow for Somerset," Mrs Simon-Norris says.

"We still don't think the government realises that by reducing our funding as they have done, Somerset's community misses out on vital and unique community education, so we are determined to keep lobbying to have this reinstated. We are the only county in the South West to have had our community learning budget stripped - this is unfair to Somerset and something we intend to fight for."

Going forward, the organisation will continue to deliver apprenticeships, traineeships, maths, English, digital skills and business related courses across Somerset but will partner with community-based organisations to deliver learning in the Community.

"The saddest and most difficult part however, is having to let loyal, long-standing and hard-working staff members go," Mrs Simon-Norris said.

"Through no fault of the organisation's, many people will be losing their jobs just before Christmas and I put this firmly at the door of the funding body which has failed to understand the impact of the cuts to our community and the service our staff provide. It is devastating."

David Fothergill, leader of Somerset County Council, said: “This situation is a direct result of the Government removing of a major source of funding, and would be the case whether or the this work was part of the council or external to it.

“We understand how important skills and training are, which is why we lobbied hard on behalf of SS&L, going as far as to meet the minister to make its case, which will have played some part in these transition funds being made available”.

SS&L staff are currently in redundancy consultations and centres are likely to close in the coming months.

West Somerset Labour Party chairman Maureen Smith said: "This is a terrible blow for adult education in Somerset. These drastic cuts are a consequence of the decision by the county council to out-source this important service. Education is not just about preparing people for work. With an ageing population, it is vital for social inclusion and well-being."