College Tripartite Alignment Group minutes: December 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Ben Macpherson MSP, Minister for Higher and Further Education, Scottish Government

• Stuart Greig (Chair), Scottish Government

• Sara Grainger, Scottish Government

• Claire Jamieson, Scottish Government

• Luise Siekman, Scottish Government

• Fraser Syme (Secretariat), Scottish Government

• Keira McCutcheon (Secretariat), Scottish Government

• Tiff Ritchie, Scottish Funding Council

• Lynne Raeside, Scottish Funding Council

• Helen Cross, Scottish Funding Council

• Gavin Donoghue, Colleges Scotland

• Andy Witty, Colleges Scotland

• Angela Cox (Ayrshire College), Colleges Scotland

• Alan Williamson (Edinburgh College), Colleges Scotland

• Jim Metcalfe (Fife College), Colleges Scotland

• Jon Vincent (Glasgow Clyde College), Colleges Scotland

• Stella McManus (South Lanarkshire College), Colleges Scotland

• Pete Smith (Borders College), Colleges Scotland

Items and actions

Note of last meeting/eNIC/CDEL/RDEL 

It was agreed that the note of the last meeting needs to be amended to reflect that ‘all’ English colleges received eNIC support – the note can then be published.  

SFC provided an update on CDEL/RDEL, confirming that colleges will receive what they have asked for in 2025/26 with an SFC publication in due course confirming amount to be honoured; and confirming that future years are being discussed. 

 

Ministerial Remarks  

The Minister provided reflections on his first few months in post, emphasising his commitment to the sector and the vital role it plays in communities and the economy. He thanked the Group for its collaborative work to date and looks forward to working with the Group.  

 

College Flexibilities  

CS presented a paper on potential flexibilities and advised that it will be developed further to provide comparisons with Wales and Northern Ireland as well as England.  

It was agreed that it is important now to understand the priorities – where there may be potential ‘quick wins’ (such as procurement, for example) and where there will be longer-term pieces of work (such as borrowing and carrying forward cash/surpluses); and that this should be possible by the time of the next Group meeting (suggested for March).  

There was agreement that securing ‘quick wins’ will give the sector confidence that work is developing to ensure its sustainability; and that the interdependent nature of many of these potential flexibilities must be understood and considered. 

CS asked if SG will be in touch with UK Government in relation to VAT following speculation about its reserved status. The Minister suggested linking in with Cabinet Secretary for Finance regarding this.  

 

Action 

SG to make contact with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance regarding VAT and update the Group.  

 

Future of the College Sector  

CS provided an update on this work, noting that it is an evolution of previous reviews, and that there are parallels with Universities Scotland’s work with Scottish Government on the future sustainability of Scotland’s universities. 

There was agreement that colleges are unique, with regional variation meaning one size will not fit all; and that considering their future on a regional basis may be more manageable and achievable. 

There was also agreement that it is important to understand where there will be interaction with the universities work and to understand what it means for the college sector.  

CS advised they have written to the First Minister seeking a meeting ahead of the budget, and will work offline with SG and SFC to look at the resources required to take this work forward and the timelines involved. 

There was support across the Group for this next phase of work, with the Minister thanking the sector for taking the initiative and bringing forward such a positive proposal, noting that we need to build on the lessons learned from regionalisation, and involve staff and unions in the process. 

There was agreement that in the new year consideration will be given to how this work will be structured; what workshops can be set up to generate the creative thinking required, and who should be involved in these; how this work can build on the model of the flexibilities work; and how the cross-party element of the university work could perhaps be utilised in this space. 

 

College Transformation Framework (CTF)  

SFC provided an update on the expressions of interest received for AY 2026/27. 

CS reps involved in the CTF pilots this AY advised that although it is early in the process, the CTF has enabled a rebalancing of a large part of its curriculum for one of the colleges as it has provided the flexibility to reskill and restructure etc; with the other college now working on a 3 year transformation plan with key priorities such as workforce and curriculum development. 

There was discussion around how best to communicate the benefits of the CTF such as providing the flexibility colleges need to respond to changing demands; and how CTF can help drive forward the transformative future of the college sector work.