Cumbria Students Offered Scholarships Worth Up To £9,000 In New Kendal College Partnership
More than 100 young people in Kendal could benefit from scholarships and travel opportunities under a new Cumbria education partnership.
Kendal College and the University of Cumbria have launched a new initiative called Keeping Talent Local, designed to encourage young people to pursue higher education without having to leave the county. The pilot programme is aimed at business students and will provide financial assistance alongside opportunities to develop professional skills and gain valuable experience. The organisations hope the partnership will make university more accessible while helping local employers recruit graduates with the qualifications and expertise needed to support Cumbria's economy.
Under the scheme, eligible students progressing from Kendal College to the University of Cumbria could receive scholarships worth £1,500 annually throughout a three-year undergraduate degree. This would provide financial assistance totalling £4,500 over the duration of their studies. In addition, a limited number of high-achieving business students could qualify for larger scholarships worth up to £9,000. The financial support is intended to help reduce some of the costs associated with university education and make continuing into higher education a more realistic option for students.
The partnership is also intended to address practical barriers that can prevent young people from considering university. Financial pressures, family responsibilities and the prospect of relocating away from home can influence decisions about further education. For some students, remaining in Cumbria while studying offers a more manageable alternative to moving to another part of the country. The organisations involved believe that providing clearer local progression routes, combined with financial support, could help more young people pursue their academic ambitions without having to leave their established communities.
Students taking part in the programme will also have opportunities to gain accreditation from the Chartered Management Institute alongside their university degrees. This professional recognition is intended to complement their academic studies by helping them develop knowledge and skills relevant to management and leadership careers. Combining a university qualification with professional accreditation could give graduates additional experience to demonstrate to prospective employers. The initiative therefore aims to provide more than financial assistance, creating a route through which students can develop academic knowledge and professional capabilities during their higher education.
International and domestic travel opportunities will form another part of the programme. Participants will be able to take part in supported trips within the UK and overseas, with the experiences linked to their studies. These opportunities are intended to broaden students' understanding of business, develop confidence and expose them to different environments beyond their usual educational surroundings. The partnership aims to ensure that studying in Cumbria does not prevent young people from gaining wider experiences that could help prepare them for employment and future professional opportunities.
Practical preparation will begin before students progress into university education. The programme will include visits to university campuses, giving participants the opportunity to become familiar with higher education facilities and understand what studying at degree level involves. Specialist masterclasses will also cover subjects including marketing and project management. These sessions are intended to introduce students to areas of business that are relevant to their future studies and employment prospects, while helping them build confidence in their ability to progress into higher education.
Employer engagement will also be included in the pilot, helping students develop a better understanding of the skills and expectations of businesses. Personal statement workshops and support with UCAS applications will provide additional assistance for those preparing to apply for university places. These activities are designed to guide students through important stages of the application process, particularly those who may not have previous experience of applying to higher education. The organisations hope this combination of academic guidance and practical support will make the transition from college to university more straightforward.
Mike Mounfield, head of faculty for professional and academic studies at Kendal College, said the partnership was intended to help students recognise that their ambitions could be achieved regardless of their personal circumstances. He highlighted the financial and practical challenges that can make university appear inaccessible, particularly when studying requires moving away from home. He also explained that the initiative would help young people discover opportunities available within Cumbria while receiving the encouragement and preparation needed to take their next steps.
Mr Mounfield said the partnership formed part of a wider ambition to develop the skills required by the regional economy and retain more of the talent being developed locally. He believes students should not feel that remaining in Cumbria means restricting their educational or professional ambitions. By providing access to university courses, financial assistance and additional experiences, the programme aims to demonstrate that young people can develop their careers locally while still accessing opportunities that extend beyond the county.
The Keeping Talent Local pilot was developed by Mr Mounfield alongside Michelle Clement, lead assessor at Kendal College, and Zaeed Mohammed, senior lecturer in management and leadership at the University of Cumbria. The collaboration brings together expertise from further and higher education, with the shared objective of creating clearer opportunities for students progressing from college into university. The organisers also want to strengthen links between education providers and employers so that the qualifications and experience gained by students reflect the needs of businesses operating across the region.
Mr Mohammed said Cumbria had ambitious employers and increasing demand for graduates with relevant professional skills, but retaining talented young people remained a challenge. He said the partnership was intended to change the perception that students needed to leave the county to access high-quality educational and career opportunities. By combining scholarships, professional qualifications and opportunities to broaden their experience, the initiative aims to help young people develop the confidence and capabilities needed to succeed in their chosen careers while maintaining stronger connections with Cumbria.
The programme will operate throughout the 2026/27 academic year before undergoing a review in summer 2027. The review will assess the pilot and help determine whether the approach could be expanded into additional subjects and other colleges. Any future expansion would provide an opportunity to extend the partnership's approach beyond business education, potentially creating further progression routes for young people across the county. For now, the focus remains on supporting students involved in the initial programme and demonstrating how stronger links between colleges and universities can benefit local communities.
The initiative comes as education providers and employers continue to consider how Cumbria can retain more of its young workforce. Keeping talented graduates in the area could help businesses access people with relevant qualifications while giving young residents more opportunities to establish their careers close to home. The partnership between Kendal College and the University of Cumbria is intended to address both sides of that challenge by supporting students through education and connecting their development with the needs of the regional economy. Its longer-term potential will become clearer following the planned review in summer 2027.
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