BURY College principal Helen Gilchrist has joined the board of a national further education body.

Dr Gilchrist won the second highest number of votes in the poll to the national Association of Colleges (AoC). She is one of six college principals and chairmen elected.

"Bury's representation on this national body will allow them to keep right up to date with all the latest initiatives in the sector," she said.

The AoC represents all further education, sixth form, tertiary, agricultural and art and design colleges in England and Wales. Its main roles are to lobby Government for resources and to promote further education nationally.

Dr Gilchrist has been principal at Bury College for three years, and was the first woman to become a further education college principal in Lancashire when she took over Nelson and Colne College nine years ago.

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