TEENAGER Shane Tarr should soon be cooking up a storm as a top chef after hearing this week that the college course that could open the door into the catering industry has been saved from the threat of closure. The 17-year-old from Williton contacted the Free Press last week to voice his concern after being warned the final year of his two-year NVQ hospitality and catering course could be axed because of a funding crisis at the Somerset College of Arts and Technology in Taunton. SCAT is facing a £1 million shortfall and the prospect of making around 45 staff redundancies because of a nationwide reduction in the money colleges receive from the Government-funded Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Initially, SCAT had been unable to confirm which courses were under threat. However, on Tuesday a spokesman confirmed that there was no longer a threat to Shane's course. "A letter will be going out to Shane and his fellow students today to let them know that their course will continue in September - it will be business as usual." The spokesman said that the funding shortfall would be met through efficiency savings and a realignment of the way the college worked. She said learners, new learners and parents could be assured that courses in all subject areas, except floristry, would be running and it was likely that the only ones not on offer would be those that failed to recruit sufficient students. The spokesman said that the situation had been unclear last week because of the on-going consultation with unions over the redundancies. "But with the deadline for that consultation being extended - possibly to July 23 - we felt it was unfair on students to leave them in limbo." Shane, who was given the news verbally on Wednesday, said he was absolutely delighted. "I am just so relieved. When I was told I was just shocked, surprised and speechless. "I'm so chuffed that I can actually complete my course and hopefully get the qualification that will help me become a chef." SCAT principal Alison Scott said: "The college is financially sound and we are working on efficiency measures rather than the closure of courses. "We are still in consultation with the unions and have extended the original deadline to allow the unions a longer consultation period. "From natural wastage and redeployment we already know that we will not need to make any of our administration staff compulsorily redundant, which is good news. "We are working with academic staff and will announce any further changes as they happen."
