One of the top specialist landbased colleges in the UK, Reaseheath College in Cheshire has secured a £15 million funding facility from the education division at Santander Corporate and Commercial, to continue its programme of expansion.

The new £15 million funding follows an initial refinancing package of £14.5 million provided by Santander in 2017. 

Reaseheath is a national leader for industry training in areas such as agricultural engineering, horticulture, food technology, agriculture and animal management. Its facilities include a licensed food centre, an animal centre with zoo, a commercial farm and an equestrian centre.

The college is currently undergoing an £80 million redevelopment programme which includes an Advanced Engineering and Agri-Tech Centre, further on-site Halls of Residence, a Sports Science and Performance Academy and an upgrade to its University Centre.

The current investment into facilities and learning resources has also been supported by funding received from the Cheshire & Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.

Graeme Lavery, Reaseheath’s Chief Finance Officer and Director of Resources, said, “We have been delighted with the support provided by Santander. The series of new capital developments that we have underway are important for the ongoing success of the college. Our aim is to provide the highest quality facilities both for our students and for our employer partners. This ensures that we can continue to achieve our main objective, which is to fully prepare our students for their future careers.”

John Ramsay, Relationship Director in Santander’s Education Team, commented, “We are delighted to support Reaseheath College with this funding and look forward to helping it achieve its goal of expanding nationally and internationally. Reaseheath has a strong reputation in a number of key areas and its relationship with local and national businesses has been a key driver in its growth.”