Stockport College is a large educational institute providing further education and Higher Education to those age over 15. It has a well-established history and plays a major role in providing educational opportunities for the community including school leavers, businesses and overseas students. The college has academic and vocational courses from pre-GCSE to degree level. It is a major provider of post 16 education and training in Stockport and a key regional and national centre for a range of specialist courses. The college merged with North Area College on 1st Jan 2006. At this time Stockport college was a struggling business and the integration of North Area was seen as a financial lifeline for Stockport college. The merged operation is a £30million business across two sites although it is intended the sell of the land acquired from North Area College as the merger was only ever intended to boost Stockport college's finances. it was also renamed Stockport College at the same time as a result of the merger, being formerly known as Stockport College of Further and Higher Education.