Confident college bosses are putting cash on the table to encourage students to sign up in September.

The student guarantee initiative which will be introduced at North Herts College in September will mean that any student who completes a course but finds it hasn’t opened doors for them could be entitled to a £1,000 payout.

Terms and conditions apply – the guarantee is aimed at students aged 16 to 18 on full-time courses, who will need to abide by the college’s code of conduct, have a good attendance record and complete their studies.

But the college promises that if, six months after the end of the course, any student who hasn’t either got a job, an apprenticeship or is continuing their education will be able to claim the cash.

College principal Matt Hamnett, who has just completed his first year in charge at the college which has centres in Stevenage, Hitchin and Letchworth, says that students who haven’t applied themselves need not apply.

But he said: “If they’ve done their bit we will put them where they want to be.

“The work we have done in the last 12 months means I am confident that we won’t have to write any cheques.

“I hope prospective students and parents will see the guarantee as a real signal of our commitment to help students get where they want to be in life.”

Deputy principal Kit Davies added: “Everything we do is about helping students prepare for the career and the life that they want.

“The guarantee reflects our confidence in the programmes that we offer and the support that we provide for our students as they complete their studies and think about their next steps.

“An important part of the guarantee is that students play their part – attending classes, completing qualifications and behaving appropriately. That’s about students taking ownership of their own destiny with our support.

“We’ll continue supporting them for several months after they’ve completed their studies, to help them secure the progression opportunities that will best work for them. If, after six months, they haven’t progressed, we’ll give them £1,000 to help them kick-start their journey.”