The heads of colleges throughout Suffolk and Norfolk have joined together to create a new group to promote a vision for the future of further education in the region. The group represents 11 colleges from across Norfolk and Suffolk, who collectively teach 32,000 students and around 8,000 apprentices. The lifetime value of all the qualifications awarded is a staggering £1.379 billion. Dr Nikos Savvas, Chairman of the New Anglia Colleges Group and Principal of West Suffolk College, said: “Our vision is important. It sets out the needs and priorities of the sector. We are working together as we believe passionately in the ethos of ‘education without borders’ for the benefit of this region. We will be working as one to support the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, so that together we are committed to raising educational standards and aspirations and a stronger regional economy.” The full list of colleges involved in the group is: City College Norwich, The College of West Anglia, East Norfolk Sixth Form College, Easton and Otley College, Great Yarmouth College, Lowestoft College, Paston Sixth Form College, Suffolk New College, Suffolk One and West Suffolk College. CWA Principal David Pomfret said: “I am proud that the College of West Anglia is a part of the New Anglia Colleges group. This initiative will enhance our work with the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, helping to raise the aspirations of our students and increase the educational value of our college. "I look forward to CWA moving forward as a part of this group and being able to share the progress and developments over the upcoming months.”   Did you know, in the New Anglia Colleges group: The average SFA Further Education Choices rating for NACG colleges is 8/10 from Employers (2012/13) and 8/10 from Learners (2013/14) Over 10,000 adults study at our colleges each year We employ 3298 staff (of whom 1526 are teaching staff) The total Net Present Value for all 16-18 achievements that are linked to the LEP priority sectors increased to 30% in 2013/14 61% of our A-level provision is in STEM related subjects The total college income for the NACG is £185m At their most recent Ofsted inspection, over 80% of the NACG colleges were judged good or outstanding for their overall effectiveness Every year our colleges educate and train over 21,000 people, 60% of these at level 3 Apprenticeship success rates in NACG are 74.5% (above the national average) Education and training success rates across our colleges are 82%, above the national average Over half of apprenticeships across NACG are in manufacturing or engineering More than 2100 16-18 year old apprentices enrol in our colleges each year Over 70% of our adult apprentices are under 24 years old