Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning Keith Brown cut the first sod at the site of the new Forth Valley College campus in Alloa today.

Work on the £21 million development, supported by the Scottish Government's £17 million capital investment in the further education estate and undertaken by Miller Construction will support 130 construction jobs and provide 30 students with work experience as part of their course work.

The new Alloa campus is due to welcome its first cohort of students in August 2011 and will provide new, state-of-the-art facilities for students and the local business community. Forth Valley College is also updating its campus in Stirling which will support a further 130 construction jobs and approximately 40 work experience students.

Mr Brown said: "We must continue to stimulate the economy when and where we can in order to support a strong recovery. Not only will this new campus provide a community hub in the heart of Alloa, it is helping students gain vital work experience through the Get Ready for Work programme and has created more than 130 jobs in a sector under pressure in the current economic climate.

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"Forth Valley College has ambitious plans to develop and upgrade across its three main campuses, providing education and opportunities in positive learning environments for thousands of students in Central Scotland.

Linda McKay, Principal for Forth Valley College said: "We are delighted construction is now underway at the site of our new Alloa Campus. It's fantastic to think that we will have a new state-of-the-art community campus open in August next year.

"It's also been a pleasure to have Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning, Keith Brown join us today to the mark the occasion, along with a number of construction students who will benefit from work experience on the new college building and be amongst our first intake of learners when the new campus opens."

The new campus development will have space for up to 2900 students per academic year and include high tech-specification teaching rooms, workshops, gym and cafeteria. The Campus will offer provision in subject areas such as construction, engineering, motor vehicle maintenance, science, business, computing, childcare and education, creative industries, hairdressing and beauty therapy.

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is providing £21 million, 100 per cent funding, for the new Forth Valley College campus in Alloa, part of a wider investment in the College's estate which totals £50 million. SFC has made available £15 million at this stage to allow work on the Alloa building to start now, meaning that students will be able to move into the new facilities in August 2011.

Forth Valley College's new Alloa Campus has a key location in the heart of Alloa Town Centre in Hillcrest Drive, just off Clackmannan Road.

Conference facilities will be available for hire and the general public will be encouraged to use the facilities for community activities.

(GK)