Dave Thompson MSP

Concern that the closure of construction courses at a college centre in Easter Ross could harm the facility's future viability has prompted local MSP Dave Thompson to open talks with funders to find ways of maintaining the current situation.

Mr Thompson was spurred into action when he was told that North Highland College was looking at plans to end the delivery of construction courses at its Alness construction training facility as part of cost-cutting plans designed to help it reduce a seven-figure overdraft.

Among the courses likely to be affected was the only Highland course for the training of apprentice slaters and roofers as well as another for joinery.

After learning that the loss of the course would mean that apprentice slaters and roofers would have to travel to Arbroath to be trained, Mr Thompson added his substantial influence to the existing efforts of funders and training providers in the Highlands to look for a way this can continue to be delivered in Alness.

Mr Thompson quickly opened talks with Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council with a view to finding a way of rescuing the training, particularly the specialised roofing and slating course.

"If the course ends in Alness, the closest place apprentice slaters and roofers can be trained would be in Arbroath," Mr Thompson noted. "One key consideration is that their travel and accommodation costs to attend there would fall to Skills Development Scotland so we have been looking at whether that money could be made available to help fund their place in the Highlands."

While the Scottish Funding Council has agreed in principle that, if a sound business case is made for the continued delivery of the course in the Highlands, it could help to meet the capital costs of adapting college facilities to make the delivery of these courses more efficiently.