CONGRATULATIONS to Nick Juba on his appointment as CEO of City College and Northbrook College which are expected to be joined together.

The task ahead is not an easy one, but if he manages to achieve the objectives set by the boards of the two colleges, the potential outcome could be a very good one for thousands of students.

Mergers and takeovers are always challenging in situations where the culture of the two parts is very different and that is certainly the case here.

Many students have chosen to travel into Brighton from West and East Sussex in order to study at City College, but there have also been many others that have chosen to make the reverse journey.

In some cases this has been because the course options have been different, but in others these decisions have been taken even though comparable courses were available on both sites.

Having been involved in a number of mergers of local charities I have experience of this, albeit as a trustee.

Technically the two colleges are charities, but they are a world away from the charities I refer to.

Nevertheless the principles carry across.

Re-focusing the priorities of one or both institutions can be a challenge.

Equally, bringing some level of common bond to the staff team is not at all easy but in time these can be achieved.

However, the colleges don’t share the same culture and that is a much more challenging element.

I hope Nick can harmonise and retain the best from both of these institutions for the sake of all students.