The government is to offer a total of 65 free short and modular courses to train adults in STEM sectors, in subjects including digital construction.
Thousands of working adults are expected to enrol in the courses at 10 Institutes of Technology (IoT), which will be a blend of classroom and remote online study, and will vary in length from 50 to 138 hours.
The programmes will be available to working adults aged 19 and over, with priority given to those employed locally to the IoT, in related industries such as digital or healthcare.
The IoTs have worked in partnership with local employers to ensure courses address existing skills gaps.
A total of £6.4m is being invested to support IoTs to offer the free courses, which will support up to 4,000 working adults.
From September 2022, the government will start rolling out newly approved Higher Technical Qualifications, beginning with Digital, and followed by Construction and Health in 2023.
Higher Technical Qualifications will provide a progression route for both young people taking T Levels or A Levels, and adults looking to upskill or retrain.
Minister for further and higher education, Michelle Donelan, said: “Making sure more people can train and develop at any stage of their life to secure high skilled, high paid jobs is at the heart of our plans.
“These fantastic new courses will open up more training alternatives for adults, address skills gaps in our economy and level up opportunities across the country.”
