Staff and students from United Colleges Group’s newly opened Euston Skills Centre campus, part of the College of North West London, were proud to be invited to an exclusive event at 10 Downing Street this week.

The event, hosted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, marked the announcement of an increase in defence budget by the UK Government. The investment aims to support British businesses aligned with defence resource, including the Engineering and Construction industries.

Euston Skills Centre, operated by United Colleges Group with our partners Camden Council, opened its doors in 2024 and offers state-of-the-art training and facilities on courses across engineering and the built environment.

During the event at Number 10, learners from the college were able to speak with exhibitors and potential employers who were also in attendance. They listened to a speech from the Prime Minister, who then took the time to speak with the students individually about their courses and plans for the future.

United Colleges Group CEO & Group Principal Stephen Davis said: “It is always a fantastic experience for anyone to go to Downing Street but for our students to walk through that door shows them the power of education and opportunity. This is what we do as a college, as an anchor institution and as a changemaker organisation. My thanks to the Prime Minister for inviting our students to share their stories and allowing them to add one more to their own personal journey.”

The visit comes during Colleges Week 2025, an Association of Colleges initiative running from 3 – 7 March. Using the Government's five missions as a framework, the week aims to highlight the fundamental role colleges have in building brighter futures for their students, staff, and for their local communities.