A COLLEGE has confirmed it is being forced to cut eight jobs as it tackles a £600,000 budget cut from the Government.

Hartlepool College of Further Education is looking to lose four jobs in the academic ranks and an additional four from management support.

College Principal Darren Hankey said: "Unfortunately, college budgets are not protected by the government and sadly the latest round of cuts equated to about £600,000 for us.

"These cuts come at a time when greater investment in skills is needed as Hartlepool and the Tees Valley has an ageing workforce and skills gaps and shortages are forecast to be more acute and prevalent in the coming years.

"Despite this the College’s academic success is at an all-time high – with success rates for its classroom-based courses in the top 17 per cent of all English colleges and success for its apprenticeship provision being the seventh best in the whole of England.”

So far three voluntary redundancies have been identified with a further five to be selected through compulsory redundancy.