Council boss ‘delighted’ as University of Birmingham take on the running of Doncaster’s HS2 college

The college, now called the National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure (NCATI) has been taken over by the University of Birmingham.

The national college for HS2 has now been officially shut down by ministers after facing insolvency, and relaunched as a subsidiary of the West Midlands university.

Council chief executive and independent college board member Damian Allen said the move will enable the college to ‘tap into their world-renowned’ railway education expertise.

He also said the move went further to turn Doncaster into a ‘university city’.

The Doncaster site opened to students over four years ago with another site in Birmingham and teaches technical skills required to build, operate and manage HS2 and other large railway projects.

The college was hit with financial troubles and faced potential insolvency.

The government-backed college has struggled since its launch and in 2019 received a £4.5 million bailout deal in order to keep the doors open at both sites.

Damian Allen, chief executive of Doncaster Council and independent board member of NCATI, said: “We are delighted the new National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure has been launched with the University of Birmingham which will tap into their world-renowned railway education expertise.

“We have always been passionate supporters of the college which saw Doncaster secure its cutting edge campus to train the UK’s future engineers.

“The new college will enable Doncaster residents and people from across the region to gain the very latest skills and become the highly qualified professionals the rail and wider transport sectors need to drive them forward.

“Our Education and Skills Strategy 2030 sets out big aspirations for our borough. We intend to transform Doncaster into a university city that provides advanced learning through centres of excellence like in advanced manufacturing and engineering.

“We want to provide local residents with the routes into further and higher education and advanced apprenticeships and ultimately well paid, rewarding jobs.

“We will continue to be a key partner in helping to make the new college a success and are committed to delivering our educational vision for Doncaster.”

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