Local MP speaks out as report shows Dudley has 8% less University graduates

Ian Austin, MP for Dudley North has called on Dudley Council to back his campaign to boost education, skills and training in Dudley by developing a university campus in the town.

Austin spoke out after a council report showed that a lack of skills in the town was stopping the local economy from recovering at the rate of the national average.  The report also shows that less than 23% of people in Dudley are educated to degree level or equivalent compared with the national average of 30%.

Ian Austin MP said:

“My number one priority for Dudley is to boost the local economy through better skills.  That is why I have lead the campaign to get our town a university and repeatedly called on the Council to join the previous Government’s New University Challenge programme. 

“This report is clear proof of the need to launch a communitywide campaign to get a University campus to boost aspiration and skills in Dudley.”  

“There is no doubt that both local businesses and the local community as a whole would benefit from the jobs, skills and opportunities a university campus would bring to Dudley."