Prime Highlights:
- The government is investing £570 million to expand colleges nationwide, helping young people learn skills for in-demand jobs like construction, engineering, and coding.
- £100 million of this funding will go specifically to construction courses, supporting the goal of training 60,000 more workers to build 1.5 million new homes.
Key Facts:
- Local leaders and metro mayors will decide how the remaining funding is used to increase college places for 16- and 17-year-olds entering post-16 education.
- Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs) and T Level providers will receive support, including £8.8 million for specialist equipment, to give students hands-on training with industry-standard tools.
Background:
The government is giving £570 million to colleges across the country to help young people learn skills for jobs in construction, engineering, coding, and other needed careers. This will help train more workers for the future.
Of the total funding, £100 million is earmarked for construction courses to reduce waiting lists and help achieve the government’s target of training 60,000 additional construction workers to support the delivery of 1.5 million new homes. The remaining funds will be allocated by metro mayors and local leaders to expand college capacity and create opportunities tailored to local community needs.
Applications are now open for colleges to become Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs) in priority sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence, and digital technologies. Alongside this, T Level providers will benefit from an £8.8 million capital funding boost to provide students with access to industry-standard equipment.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said: “Learning a trade opens doors to a brilliant career and a secure future. Our plan ensures every young person can become a builder, engineer, or technician while supporting national growth and infrastructure projects.”
This investment forms part of a broader effort to improve post-16 education, including new vocational pathways like V Levels, professional development for teachers, and enhanced English and maths support for students.
The initiative follows a £1.5 billion cash injection to provide learning or employment opportunities for nearly one million young people, creating 50,000 additional apprenticeships over the next three years, giving young people a strong foundation for future careers.
