Greenpower Racing featured above, which allowed the College to engage in the development of electrically powered vehicles, was funded through BFET.
Further Education is excellently served in the Scottish Borders by Borders College. Well known for its wide range of courses from school-based to advanced courses, its students enjoy a first-class learning and teaching environment featuring bespoke practical training areas, a modern, well-stocked library and learning resource centre, up-to-date IT facilities, and cheerful student social areas. The College is funded primarily by the Scottish Funding Council on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Less well known is Borders Further Education Trust (BFET), an independent charity set up to enhance the education experience for further education students in the Scottish Borders. The Trust uses its funds to support delivery of improved teaching accommodation, facilities and/or equipment; development of teaching materials; and delivery of courses not already covered by core funding.
Examples of BFET-funded projects include the refurbishment of the College’s small lecture theatre, a major upgrade to IT infrastructure, including upgrades to servers, desktop and laptop computers, and the purchase of Greenpower Racing kits to allow Borders College to engage in the development of competition with electrically powered vehicles. This last project involved collaboration with Heriot-Watt University and local schools.
Applications for BFET funds are closely scrutinised by a board of trustees, to ensure that they don’t duplicate or conflict with existing planned projects. Some of the current trustees are stepping down and we are now looking for new members of the Board from a variety of relevant backgrounds. If you think you have skills and experience to offer and would be interested in finding out more, get in touch by emailing enquiries@borderscollege.ac.uk
The Board meets briefly several times a year (currently by Zoom!) and trustees are unpaid, although appropriate expenses may be paid.