Cllr Nigel Robbins

Nigel planned the beginnings of Cirencester College from a small office in the old Teachers Centre in Victoria Road. From those humble beginnings, expansion was rapid - within 20 years approximately 2,200 students attended the college. After twenty years service as Principal to Cirencester College, Nigel Robbins retired at the end of 2010.

In 2005 Nigel was awarded an OBE recognising his services to further and higher education. This inspired Nigel to become the figurehead to many campaigns nationally where he sees unfairness or injustice. In 2005 he led the debate on the closing of the funding gap between colleges and schools which was taken up a year later by the then Secretary of State for Education, Ruth Kelly.

Eighteen months ago, Nigel raised awareness nationally of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) fiasco which led to thousands of students going without government support. This campaign was taken up by both BBC Education and the Guardian.

Nigel Robbins was elected to the County Council for Cirencester Beeches Division in 2013, gaining the seat from the Conservatives. He was then elected to Cotswold District Council for Cirencester Beeches Ward in May 2015.