BURY'S two further education colleges are set to work together in a bid to stave off a cash crisis.

Bury College and Holy Cross have been holding secret talks for the past two years about developing closer links, which could include sharing staff and jointly-run courses.

But links will not mean a merger between the two colleges, senior managers insist. The boards of both colleges say they are determined each one's individual strengths will remain. The driving force behind the "joint ventures" is lack of cash coming in from the Further Education Funding Council, the quango which channels money to the FE sector.

Both colleges have been hit by cuts in recent years, with staff levels falling. This is despite a rise in student numbers, especially at Bury College. At Holy Cross, some £200,000 was axed from the staff budget in the current financial year.

The colleges have issued a joint statement which outlines the joint ventures, but as yet no details have been confirmed.

They do, however, say that they are looking at "possible collaboration" in the areas of curriculum, business and support services and staffing and staff development.

They say they want a wider choice for students by protecting "minority subjects", share sports facilities and organise a purchasing consortium. They want to combine their power.

Mr Mike O'Hare, principal of Holy Cross College, said: "This is a joint venture to enable us to secure more money to build on our success."

Dr Helen Gilchrist, principal at Bury College said: "We believe that by working together, we will make it impossible to find provision to rival that which will exist in the borough."

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