Further Education

Giving FE colleges the support to let their students and wider communities flourish.

We’ve been advising further education (FE) colleges ever since they left local authority control in 1992.  We advise some of the country’s biggest colleges on everything from property to governance, and from corporate and commercial issues to staffing and students.

We’ve seen and supported some ground-breaking ideas over the years. If you’re embarking on a bold new project, we have the experience and ideas to make your vision a reality.

How we help

We’re immersed in further education, helping colleges with management, planning, recruiting and restructuring. In fact, we can support you on all aspects of your day-to-day management.

We understand the complexities of the Area Review Process, and we help with the mergers it’s created – including those involving sixth-form colleges and specialist designated institutions (SDIs). We’ve run merger training for lots of colleges, and have advised on several mergers, often acting for both merging colleges.

We also advise international organisations who hope to get involved in higher education in the UK.

“Bates Wells are specialists and understand the particular concerns of our sector.”

Education Higher & Further, Chambers 2024
Meet our team
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