Despite the largest block grant, in cash terms, in the history of devolution, there has been a real-terms slashing of North East Scotland College’s budget next year, which comes alongside the flat cash settlements of previous years. The college now faces a funding gap of £2.7 million. Principal Neil Cowie and his team have worked miracles to preserve places and to focus on reducing non-staff costs while they are dealing with the withdrawal of training opportunities following the scrapping of the flexible workforce development fund.