Staff at three Welsh further education colleges held protests this week over budget cuts that they warn will seriously hamper the recovery of the region’s economy. Swansea College, Coleg Sir Gar in Llanelli and Gorseinon College near Swansea were targeted for protests by members of the University and College Union, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the Association of College Managers and Unison.

The protesters warned that failure to reverse recent cuts to the FE budget will lead to even more job losses at a time when colleges are needed to help retrain people seeking to get back into work. They said Assembly government members had to act now to avoid a meltdown in the sector.