Neil tells me with some pride how the number of apprentices has grown from around 450 three years ago to about 1,000 now. Principal on ‘biggest fear’ amid Nescol funding uncertaintyBut despite Neil’s positive forecast, lingering challenges remain. Nescol funding in numbersThe Scottish Government’s core teaching grant for Nescol was £36.5m in 2025/26, but that has jumped by 10% in this financial year. The money they have been allocated by the Scottish Funding Council covers the maximum of 6,000 places at the moment. Paul says: “We’re not asking for more funding from government, Scottish Funding Council, to survive… We’re asking for funding to let us thrive and let us grow.