TWO Worcestershire colleges look set to merge as early as next September.

Staff at Worcester College of Technology, in Worcester, and North East Worcestershire College, which has campuses in Redditch and Bromsgrove, have spent months in talks about how they could work together.

However, they agreed to move forward with a merger this week after a report by KPMG said combining the two colleges would be best for students, employers and local communities in the future.

The corporations of each college met on Monday, October 21, to consider KPMG’s report and accepted its recommendations.

Governors agreed a merger would increase the opportunities for student choice and encourage diversity in the education and training available for the county in the future.

The colleges were also urged to move as quickly as possible to minimise uncertainty about the move.

In a joint statement, Stuart Laverick, principal, Worcester College of Technology and John Callaghan, principal, North East Worcestershire College, said: “This is an important stage in the potential refocusing and continuing development of further education and vocational training in Worcestershire.

Both colleges are committed to completing the next phase of consultation and investigation as quickly as possible with the objective of developing clear plans in time for implementation for the 2014/15 academic year.”

A joint options group, made up of representatives from both colleges, has been authorised to start a formal consultation and appoint advisors to undertake financial and legal due diligence at the colleges.

Local partners and providers will also be invited to join in with the process.

Mr Laverick was unavailable for further comment yesterday.