May I take this opportunity on behalf of the Shadow Board to thank you for all the hard work that you have made towards the proposed merger. Your knowledge and expertise has played a major role in setting the foundation for what I know will be a successful outcome for the borough and its learners.

This was a complex and sensitive scenario, and with emotions running high, the ability to stabilize the position and secure stakeholder support while assessing the options was vital.  Having clearer visibility of the challenges faced, and being realistic about viable options, enabled a finely balanced situation to be carefully managed, with full stakeholder engagement throughout.

Many thanks to Jo Wright at De Novo for her valuable work with us on the merger of two colleges. Jo brought a different insight and clarity to the analysis, aiding understanding of liquidity and debt serviceability post-merger. De Novo’s work was key in supporting our conversations with the Bank and the Transaction Unit, and she was