Around 65,000 learners will now have access to training for high-demand jobs in Britain’s fastest-growing industries, as the government rolls out the next wave of Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs).
Backed by £175m of government funding, 19 new TECs across the country will deliver training in the sectors driving Britain’s growth – advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defence, as well as digital technologies.
It’s estimated that almost 600,000 additional workers will be needed by 2030 in these key sectors, underlining the scale of demand for skills and further training in these critical industries.
The TECs will equip young people with the high-level technical skills needed to access well-paid, high-skilled jobs, giving them a clear route from education into work.
As part of the Industrial Strategy, the government’s £175m investment will support teaching, improved courses and access to specialist equipment in establishments selected for Technical Excellence College status.
From Durham to Plymouth, the newly awarded colleges are strategically located to align with local industry demand, helping drive regional growth and train a skilled workforce where it is needed most.
The government aims for the TECs to break down barriers to opportunity and help it to reach the prime minister’s target for two-thirds of young people to be in higher-level learning by the age of 25.
Building on construction TECs
The latest TECs build on the first wave, announced in August 2025, where investment of £100 million is already beginning to support improvements in facilities, teaching and employer partnerships.
Bedford Technical Excellence College was selected last year to specialise in construction and is already carrying out training for other providers across the country.
The government backing comprises £97m from the Department for Education, £50 million from the Ministry of Defence and £28 million from the Department for Business and Trade.
Skills minister Jacqui Smith said: “The industries that will define Britain’s future – clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defence, digital – need a pipeline of highly-skilled workers, and we’re building it.
“This is skills investment that works for learners, for employers, and for the regions driving growth across the country. They’ll deliver local jobs for local people, as well as growth for the whole of the country.”
The 19 colleges selected will begin delivery from April 2026, acting as hubs of excellence and working with other providers to raise standards nationwide.
It follows the announcement of a major £1.5bn cash injection to provide learning or employment opportunities for almost one million young people and create 50,000 more apprenticeships for young people over the next three years.
