The future of further education at Riseholme College has been secured after one of the country’s best-known land-based colleges won the contract to deliver courses from August 2012.

Bishop Burton College was announced as the preferred bidder to offer Further Education (FE) provision at Riseholme College following a competitive tendering process led by the Skills Funding Agency and the Young People’s Learning Agency.

Currently, the University of Lincoln runs FE courses at Riseholme College alongside its Higher Education (HE) courses on the Riseholme Campus. The FE portfolio includes diplomas and work-based apprenticeships in subjects such as agriculture, animal management, horticulture and land-based engineering.

The University previously announced it would not be renewing its FE contract at Riseholme College once it expired, so that it could focus on its HE offer. The University, which is renowned for its work in agriculture, food and animal sciences, will continue to deliver HE degree programmes at Riseholme Campus, alongside the College’s FE courses.

Bill Meredith, Head of Agriculture and Land-based Studies, said: “I’d like to reassure all our students that the quality of education on the campus will remain high and that the change in provider will not adversely affect any study currently undertaken on the campus.BishopBurtonCollegehas an excellent reputation in the sector.”

Professor Mary Stuart, Vice Chancellor at the University of Lincoln, said: “This announcement secures the future provision of further education atRiseholmeCollegeand we’re very much looking forward to working with one of theUK’s premier land-based colleges.

“The changes will ensure that Riseholme College continues to offer high quality further education for young people wishing to study land-based subjects. The University’s continued presence will present College students with clear routes of progression through to degree level courses, should they wish to continue in their studies.”

Bishop Burton College, which is based near Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire, is the only college in the UK to hold Centre of Vocational Excellence status in both agriculture and equine.

The transfer of FE provision at Riseholme College from the University of Lincoln to Bishop Burton Collegewill take place on 1st August 2012.

Jeanette Dawson, Principal of Bishop Burton College, said: “We’re very excited to have been awarded the contract to become the further education provider at Riseholme College and to have the opportunity to work in close partnership with the University of Lincoln.

“Riseholme College has a proud history of providing excellent education in agriculture and land-based studies. Together we can build on this for the benefit of our region’s communities and the widerUKeconomy, which needs this knowledge and skills base to feed future generations.”