Riseholme College awarded £600,000 to train next generation of skilled agri-food workers

Students at Riseholme College are set to benefit from a major investment in agriculture and horticulture training facilities, after the college was awarded £600,000 as part of Greater Lincolnshire’s devolution deal.

The funding will help the land-based college – which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year – to create a new Centre for Plant and Soil Science, enhance practical learning spaces and purchase a range of industry-standard agricultural equipment. 

It marks a significant boost to skills development in Lincolnshire’s agri-food sector, which plays a vital role in the local economy.

The new centre will be developed through the expansion of facilities at the college’s Riseholme Park site and the creation of a specialist horticulture laboratory and teaching area at its Showground Campus, adjacent to the Lincolnshire Showground. It will support the delivery of qualifications across further education, higher education, apprenticeships and part-time learning.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, the funding will also be used to purchase vital agricultural machinery and learning tools, including a telehandler, tractor and loader, crop sprayer, portable weighbridge platform and a virtual welding simulator.

Beth Curtis, Vice Principal at Riseholme College, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding, which will directly benefit our students by giving them access to cutting-edge facilities and industry-standard equipment.
“This investment is a major step forward in preparing our learners for meaningful careers in the fast-changing fields of agriculture and horticulture.
It also reflects the important role Riseholme plays in shaping the future of the agri-food sector - regionally and nationally.”

Riseholme is one of six educational institutions to share in £2.5 million of skills capital grants being delivered under the devolution agreement signed last year, which saw the creation of a new combined authority led by a directly elected mayor.

The grants are being distributed by the UK Food Valley, a major initiative supporting Lincolnshire’s food chain economy and now managed by Lincolnshire County Council.

Councillor Liam Kelly, Executive Councillor for Growth, said: “The agri-food sector is central to our economy.”