Milton Keynes College Group has launched its new Strategic Plan for 2026-2031 – Fairer Futures for All. 

The College Group held a launch event at its Bletchley campus on Wednesday 30^th September which was attended by representatives from partner employers, Milton Keynes City Council, The Open University, YMCA South Midlands and more. The event aimed to introduce the strategy and its key pillars of Skills, Growth and Opportunity, to involve the local communities and key partners in discussions on these topics and ask for community support to help make them aims a reality. 

One of the key parts of the event was a panel hosted by the College Group’s Executive Leadership Team, including the following people from a diverse range of organisations and perspectives: 

• Simon Green, CEO at YMCA South Midlands 

• Amy Langford, Director of Inclusion at Milton Keynes College Group 

• Phil Kenmore, CEO of The Open University 

• Gloria Accalai, Prisons Social Value Manager at Milton Keynes College Group 

• Jawad Al Midani, student at Milton Keynes College Group 

• Sophie Lloyd, Head of Economic Development at Milton Keynes City Council 

• Ava Capps, student at Milton Keynes College 

Topics covered during the panel discussion included how we give everyone the opportunity to succeed, how employers can support with creating opportunities for young people and what role the College Group should play in shaping the future of Milton Keynes. This was followed by an audience Q&A session, where questions covered topics such as the importance of volunteering to support young people with developing their skills, how work experience can be meaningful for young people, risks and opportunities of AI with regards to employability and how to overcome difficulties faced by people coming out of prison looking to enter the workforce. The event concluded with closing remarks from CEO and Group Principal Sally Alexander MBE. 

Reflecting on the event, Sally commented: “We’re so grateful to our partner organisations for joining us as we launched Milton Keynes College Group’s new five-year strategy, Fairer Futures for All. 

“Their presence was so important because this strategy is not something we can deliver alone. It belongs to all of us. It reflects our shared belief that education, skills and opportunity have the power to transform lives, strengthen communities and drive economic growth. 

“Over the last five years, our Building Fairer Futures strategy has helped us deliver social change through inclusive learning experiences, valuable partnerships, a culture of belonging and a financially sustainable organisation. We have built solid foundations, and now we are ready for the next chapter.  

“That next chapter is Fairer Futures for All. This strategy is ambitious. It reflects the changing needs of Milton Keynes, the rapid growth of our city, our expanding national prison education footprint and the opportunities emerging across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. It challenges us to think bigger, go further, be fairer and become stronger for the communities we serve.   

“Fairer Futures are created when three things come together: Opportunity, Skills and Growth. That is why the conversation at the event was structured around those three themes, and they will continue to drive what we do over the next five years. 

“Our launch event was also about partnership. Because fairer futures cannot be created by institutions working in isolation. They are created when employers, educators, local authorities, community organisations and civic leaders come together around a common purpose: ensuring that every person has the opportunity to succeed, every employer has access to the skills they need, and every community can benefit from growth. 

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended our launch event, and we look forward to working with organisations, communities and individuals in Milton Keynes and beyond to shape Fairer Futures for All”. 

For more information about the College Group’s new strategic plan, you can visit MK College Group – MK College