Latest news with #ForthValleyCollege
The Herald Scotland
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Auditor names colleges behind financial report delay
In a subsequent letter to the convener of the committee, Auditor General for Scotland Stephen Boyle advised that the colleges in question are Forth Valley College and Lews Castle College. He explained that both had failed to submit audited accounts on time, and that the SFC had therefore been 'unable to complete its financial sustainability report for the college sector'. Stephen Boyle also confirmed that he was preparing statutory reports on both organisations. The report on Forth Valley College, which explores a serious procurement breach that led to the involvement of Police Scotland, has since been submitted to parliament. During a committee session on 7 May, the SFC Chief Executive was asked to explain why reports on the financial sustainability of colleges and universities, which were due to be published in January, have in fact been delayed. The sectors are currently facing major financial challenges, with a number of universities seeking to reduce staff numbers. SFC Chief Exec Martin Boyle told committee members that the reports would be published 'in the autumn', and explained that his organisation had been unable to provide the reports in January as planned after 'a couple of colleges delayed the publication of their accounts.' Asked by Labour's Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP if he could 'put at least some information in the public domain on the financial state of the sector', Martin Boyle suggested that his organisation wanted to wait so that it could 'publish a report that covers all the colleges and universities.' Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie pointed out to Martin Boyle that committee members had previously been worried that SFC 'staff were not being frank with ministers about the dire situation in universities.' Mr Rennie then asked if the delay to the financial sustainability reports might 'feed into our anxiety that you are not being frank with ministers?' Martin Boyle insisted that information is provided to ministers, although conceded that some of this is kept private. Asked by committee convener Douglas Ross MSP to confirm the original and new planned dates for publication of the report, Martin Boyle advised that it would typically have been release by the end of January but will now not be available until September. He then explained that Audit Scotland's involvement in the process was 'part of the reason' why the colleges were late in submitting their accounts. Martin Boyle confirmed that accounts have now been submitted, and was pressed to explain why the report was being delayed until September if all the necessary information is available in May. He replied: 'I will go back and speak to my colleagues, and we will have a discussion about whether we should publish the report now.' An interim report has now been published. Commenting after the release of the names of the two colleges in question, Willie Rennie told the Herald: 'Scotland's colleges are facing deep financial problems and the delay in the Scottish Funding Council publishing the financial sustainability report is a clear indication of that situation. The explanation of the reason for the delay being two colleges, Forth Valley and Lews Castle, provides little confidence that the situation is under control. 'The lack of clarity from the Scottish Funding Council and also the lack of urgency to the extreme financial environment needs to change if we have any hope of overcoming this challenge.' A spokesperson for the Scottish Funding Council said: 'As Scotland's tertiary education and research authority, the Scottish Funding Council has a role in monitoring institutional sustainability to enable the best outcomes for students. 'In addition to our regular financial returns, we work closely with institutions regarding a range of issues, including their financial health. We engage with colleges and universities as soon as financial issues are identified. We then ensure they continue to fulfil their duty to learners and staff as we work alongside them to return to a position of financial health in line with a recovery plan designed to create future sustainability. 'Although we report on a sector-wide level, our interventions are on an institutional basis where, for reasons of commercial confidentiality, we are limited on the details we are able to publish' A spokesperson for Forth Valley College said: 'I can confirm that the delay in submitting the relevant accounts was linked to the College's external auditors carrying out additional scrutiny on the College's accounts related to a wider audit. This has resulted in Audit Scotland submitting a Section 22 report which was released this week. The College's 2022/23 accounts, which are now available, also outline the reasons for the delay. 'The Audit Scotland report also recognised the significant progress we have made in strengthening the processes for college-run projects. These improvements are designed to minimise the risk of similar issues arising in future, and we remain fully committed to regularly reviewing these arrangements to ensure they remain robust and fit for purpose. 'The external auditor's Annual Report for 2022/23 also concluded that with the exception of a stand-alone net zero project - the College has effective arrangements in place for financial planning, governance, and performance management. 'For clarity, the stand-alone project is no longer connected to the College and has been operating as a separate entity since June 2023.' A spokesperson for UHI North, West and Hebrides said: 'There have been significant delays to the external audit process, which resulted in late submission of our year-end accounts for 2022-23. The college do not accept the appointed auditor's view 'that the delay was due to a lack of responsiveness and staffing challenges at the college.' "UHI, as the Regional Strategic Body, submitted a formal complaint to Audit Scotland in December 2023 regarding concerns over the performance of the Audit Scotland appointed external audit provider. These matters continue to be discussed with Audit Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council. 'The basis of the Section 22 report into the 2022-23 accounts of the former Lews Castle College solely relates to a difference of opinion between the college and the appointed auditor on the college's prudent approach to the valuation of a joint venture capital asset.'
The Courier
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Courier
'Significant failings' at Forth Valley College over £76k of public cash
A Forth Valley College (FVC) project saw £76,000 of public funding paid into non-college bank accounts, prompting a police investigation, an audit has found. A review of the institution's 2022-23 accounts by Scotland's auditor general has revealed the details of the Fuel Change project's 'series of failings'. FVC says it has made significant progress in 'strengthening the processes for college-run projects'. Fuel Change, which started in 2020, is described as 'an apprenticeship challenge aimed at solving climate-related issues'. Between 2020 and 2023, it received over £1 million of public cash – £811,000 from the Scottish Funding Council, £100,000 from Skills Development Scotland, and £126,000 via other public sector grants. The audit found that staff involved in the Fuel Change project knowingly did not follow the college's financial protocol. In September 2022, it was agreed that ownership of Fuel Change would be handed over to its project director, Jennifer Tempany, and consultant David Reid of Paradigm Futures Ltd. At the time, Ms Tempany was the college's director of strategic partnerships and regional economy. The transfer would officially remove FVC from the arrangement. However, this change was delayed. Then, in November 2022, it came to light that contracts had not been properly drawn up for project spending totalling more than £900,000. A supplier had also been appointed without competition. During April 2023, the college raised concerns over invoicing arrangements that involved £76,000 of funding bypassing FVC and being deposited into accounts overseen by Ms Tempany and Mr Reid. FVC began an internal investigation and consequently reported the matter to Police Scotland. The police said it was 'clear there was a mismanagement of funds but no way to prove any criminal intent.' Ms Tempany was suspended and later dismissed, while the college 'cut ties' with Mr Reid. Ms Tempany took FVC's management board to an employment tribunal last year, claiming unfair dismissal, but the judge ruled in the college's favour. According to the audit report, the pair 'continue to run the project under a different name and within a new entity.' Stephen Boyle, auditor general for Scotland, said: 'Forth Valley College did not oversee and manage the finances of the Fuel Change project properly, and this led to significant failings. 'The college has since taken action to minimise the risk of these failings happening again.' He continued: 'There are lessons to be learned for other colleges and public bodies, who need to make sure they can manage the risks associated with involving external bodies in projects.' Abhishek Agarwal, chair of Forth Valley College's board of management, said: 'The college is aware of the Audit Scotland S22 Report and has worked closely with Audit Scotland in terms of the content of the report. 'The Audit Scotland report also recognised the significant progress we have made in strengthening the processes for college-run projects. 'These improvements are designed to minimise the risk of similar issues arising in future, and we remain fully committed to regularly reviewing these arrangements to ensure they remain robust and fit for purpose. 'The external auditor's Annual Report for 2022-23 also concluded that – with the exception of the stand-alone net zero project – the College has effective arrangements in place for financial planning, governance, and performance management. 'For clarity, the stand-alone project is no longer connected to the College and has been operating as a separate entity since June 2023.'
The National
21-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Hundreds of former Grangemouth workers receiving skills support
The UK Government says 184 workers have already begun training following the Prime Minister's commitment to a 'training guarantee' for all refinery staff. Scotland's last oil refinery ceased processing at the beginning of May. Owners PetroIneos had said it was loss-making and less efficient than other refineries. In the months leading up to the shutdown, hundreds of workers took voluntary redundancy while a number of compulsory redundancies were also made. READ MORE: Nigel Farage's crocodile tears for 'British values' are a smokescreen Every PetroIneos worker affected by the decision to close the oil refinery has been provided the opportunity for one-to-one interviews with careers specialists at Forth Valley College. Keir Starmer's 'training guarantee' was made in February, alongside a £200 million pledge to invest in future opportunities for the industrial site. UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks will discuss the site's future at a taskforce meeting on Wednesday, alongside the Scottish Government's acting Energy Secretary Gillian Martin. Shanks (below) said: 'The workforce at Grangemouth is highly skilled with significant transferrable experience which our training commitment recognises by providing tailored support for workers into new employment opportunities. 'As well as continuing to work to secure the site's long-term industrial future, we want to ensure no worker is left behind and that they are equipped with the skills they need to secure good jobs.' Martin added: 'The Scottish Government's immediate focus has rightly been on supporting workers who have lost their jobs. (Image: PA) 'We committed up to £450,000 to ensure that they are supported and assisted to secure other employment and to contribute their valuable skills to Scotland's green economy. 'That is why we are also working to secure Grangemouth's role in that future and create an investible industrial strategy for the site. 'It's clear that real progress is being made on the findings from Project Willow.' One of those who received the training support was former refinery worker Steven Bell, who took part in a range of courses and was able to find work at a company involved in the pharmaceutical sector. Bell said: 'The support I received from Forth Valley College with retraining during the redundancy process has been exceptional. 'From my one-to-one meetings discussing courses that I would be interested in and what my future career path might be, right through to getting booked onto the courses I had selected, nothing was too much trouble.'
Daily Record
29-04-2025
- Daily Record
'Hidden Stirling' uncovered in new book by city archaeologist
Archaeologist, author and Observer columnist Dr Murray Cook's latest book is set to reveal some of Stirling's hidden gems. 'Hidden Stirling: Outlawed, Unknown, Locked, Destroyed, Overlooked and Secret Gems from Scotland's Smallest City' is being released on Wednesday April 30 by local publishers Extremis. In the book, Murray unveils some lesser-known historical gems of this ancient Scottish city and its surrounding areas, offering readers a fresh perspective on its rich past. An Extremis spokesperson said: 'Explore the mysteries of some of Stirling's most celebrated buildings, from the Castle and Tolbooth to the Municipal Buildings and Golden Lion Hotel. 'Then discover the secrets of the surrounding area, where prehistoric fortifications whisper tales of ancient communities. 'Uncover the significance of the grand Church of the Holy Rude, the only surviving church in the United Kingdom apart from Westminster Abbey to have hosted a royal coronation, and unravel the enigmas of the Old Town Cemetery - a graveyard of European significance. ''Hidden Stirling' encourages you to journey beyond the familiar, revealing the city's untold tales and inviting you to see Stirling in a brand new light.' Dr Murray Cook is Stirling Council's archaeologist and has undertaken numerous excavations across the region and published over 40 books and articles. He won a Stirling's Provost Award in 2018 for his work for the council, where he has helped raise over £300,000 to be spent on community archaeology and research. He has appeared on several TV programmes and runs Stirling Archaeology, a Facebook page dedicated to Stirling's heritage. In March this year he was named the winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the City Award at the Stirling Business Awards. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at Stirling University, a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, runs an occasional course as an associate lecturer at Forth Valley College in Stirling and also co-runs regular training digs open to all under the name Rampart Scotland. He runs a series of free walks, lectures and digs through the year to allow people to explore their past. Extremis Publishing Ltd, a leading independent non-fiction publisher based in Stirling, was recently named Non-Fiction Book Publisher of the Year for Scotland at the Business Excellence Awards 2025. The annual Business Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievement across the UK business landscape, recognising organisations that demonstrate innovation, impact, and a commitment to excellence in their respective industries. Since its establishment in 2015, Extremis Publishing has built a reputation for producing non-fiction titles spanning a wide range of subjects including Scottish culture, history, the arts, and popular media, championing voices that offer fresh perspectives and insightful storytelling. This includes their 'Writing for Publication' lecture series which takes place at Forth Valley College. Extremis Publishing's co-directors, Dr Tom Christie and Julie Christie, said: 'We are incredibly honoured to receive this award, especially during our tenth anniversary year. It's a testament to the hard work and passion of everyone involved in our publishing journey, from our talented authors to our dedicated readers. 'We remain committed to producing books that educate, inspire, and reflect the richness of non-fiction storytelling in Scotland and beyond.' 'Hidden Stirling' is available for pre-order from independent bookstores and online retailers, with a release date of Wednesday April 30. For more information about the book, including participating online retailers, visit: Click here for more news and sport from the Stirling area.
