It’s been a rather dramatic end to a politically charged year. We now have a government with a hefty majority (bigger than any Conservative majority since the 1980s) - and a mandate to see Brexit through.

Much has been promised to the education sector by our new government and indeed, we have much to be optimistic about. For FE specifically, a £400 million funding boost has been pledged, which will be the biggest annual increase since 2010.

A focus on improving level 4 and 5 skills training has been promised, with the number of Institutes of Technology set to increase by a further eight, to reach a total of 20 around the country. On paper, the future looks much brighter for a sector that has struggled under austerity for the past few years.

Throughout the election campaign, much was made of the need for the UK to rival Germany in the delivery of outstanding vocational and technical education. This attitude rightfully recognises the link between high-quality skills training and a strong, productive economy.

So far, so good. We have heard politicians talking more about FE than we have done in past years and can now only hope these promises are delivered.

Background: £400m boost for colleges: 16-18 funding finally raised

News: Colleges struggling to grow international recruitment

Opinion: FE leadership stress: what can research tell us?

What’s important, however, is that FE is recognised not just for its effectiveness at delivering skills - but the very real value colleges offer to their communities, which is way beyond simply offering vocational courses at levels 1,2 and 3.

The diversification of colleges 

Many colleges, including my own, are working within a much more collaborative landscape than they were a decade ago. Working closely with other education providers (including universities) and employer partners ensures that students have access to the career pathways best suited to them, throughout their educational journey.

There are voices within the sector who will always believe that colleges should focus solely on 16-18 provision and adult skills’ delivery. Yes, this is a hugely important part of what we do, but for me, the diversification that colleges have had to go through in order to survive over the past few years has had many positive results.

Our own college group consists of a seven-campus college (offering FE and HE), a multi-academy trust (with seven schools) and a skills (apprenticeship) provider. The benefits of such a set-up are overwhelming, particularly in relation to progression opportunities and staff development.

Having expanded our expertise from purely an FE focus has helped us to safeguard our financial future as well as offering improved education to all our students at every level.

As a result of this new-era approach, we continue to thrive. Our 16-18 achievement rates have risen this year and we are one of just three FE colleges to be awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize, the highest national honour that can be awarded to FE and HE institutions.

Proving true social impact

Repositioning ourselves as a social enterprise has meant that we are more responsive to employers’ skills needs than ever before. By working in partnership with local authorities and the Greater London Authority, we have secured millions of pounds of funding for capital projects.

We are also much closer to the communities we serve now that we are working with all age groups, from primary school children through to adult community learners.

And we must not forget the added benefit of increased social value. Colleges that sit at the heart of their communities open up choice and opportunity for people of all ages, abilities and interests.

This goes way beyond people simply gaining qualifications - it’s about transforming entire regions by offering quality educational pathways, which lead to increased aspiration and social mobility.

Proving true social impact is not easy. However, we are currently piloting a pioneering model that aims to monitor and demonstrate the value we are adding to our communities - and look forward to sharing the outcomes of this in the coming year.

FE can transform lives - let’s play our part 

Quite simply, colleges are key to delivering many of the government’s education policy priorities in relation to technology and skills over the next parliamentary term - together with many social aspirations.

We already hold the employer links and skills’ delivery expertise, as well as working closely with schools and universities to strengthen progression opportunities for people from many different backgrounds within local communities.

FE has an important job to do over the coming years so let’s move into 2020 with optimism that our newly elected politicians can and will deliver on their promises. As a sector, we all know that FE has the potential to transform lives - so let’s play our part in making sure this happens.

Sam Parrett is the CEO of the London and South East Education Group