Sixty-seven colleges and other post-16 institutions have been selected for capital projects the government says will create more than 22,000 additional learner places. The Department for Education (DfE) today published the successful bidders for two funds covering the parts of England where post-16 capital decisions have not yet been devolved. But it has not revealed how much each project will receive, what will be built or how many places individual colleges are expected to create. ‘Heartbreaking’: colleges already turning teenagers away The cash lands following a two year period in which some colleges have reporting running out of space to accommodate growing numbers of learners. FE Week reported in April that 9,500 young people had been unable to start the construction course they wanted because their college had no space, with more than 400 on waiting lists for carpentry, electrical, plastering and plumbing courses at Dudley College alone. James Staniforth, principal of Shrewsbury College, said at the time that turning applicants away because “we just haven’t got the workshop space” was “heartbreaking”. His college has won projects from both pots. The Association of Colleges estimated in April that colleges would teach 22,106 more 16 to 18-year-olds next year than they are funded for. The 16 to 18 population grew by 230,000, or 13 per cent, between 2017 and 2024 and is forecast to rise by a further 110,000 by 2028, peaking nationally in the 2028-29 academic year. Who made the list The list, in full below, contains 87 projects; 46 through the general post-16 capacity fund and 41 to expand construction training. The 87 projects are spread across 68 colleges and other institutions, with 14 winning schemes from both funding pots. South Staffordshire College appears most frequently, with four successful projects across sites in South Staffordshire, Cannock Chase and Lichfield. Sparsholt College Hampshire and the Bedford College Group each have three. Abingdon and Witney College, Bournemouth and Poole College, City College Plymouth, Gloucestershire College, NCG and Northampton College are among those appearing in both categories. Successful general capacity bidders include academy trusts such as Heart of Mercia Trust, NOVA Education Trust and Weydon Multi Academy Trust alongside FE and sixth-form colleges. Half the pot already devolved The £287 million earmarked for the capital projects was announced in February and forms the nationally managed portion of a £570 million capital programme running to the 2029-30 financial year. A further £283 million has been devolved to combined authorities and other areas with devolution deals to spend on their own priorities. Of the funding controlled by DfE, £191 million was made available for post-16 capacity projects and £96 million for schemes related to construction provision. Devolved areas received £184 million and £99 million respectively. Applications opened in February to FE colleges, designated institutions, sixth-form colleges and 16-19 academies in non-devolved areas. Schools with sixth forms, university technical colleges, studio schools and maths schools were excluded. Colleges could bid for between £250,000 and £5 million for each project, although DfE retained discretion to go higher where there was sufficient evidence of need. Refurbish, don’t rebuild General capacity projects had to create space for at least 31 additional 16 to 19-year-olds and show that growth could not be absorbed by existing estates or another local institution. Projects are generally expected to be complete by August 2028 so the extra places can be used from that September. DfE guidance said schemes that reconfigured or refurbished existing space were more likely to meet its delivery and value-for-money requirements. Permanent new builds faced tougher tests because of longer lead-in times and the temporary nature of the demographic pressure, although they could be approved where colleges demonstrated longer-term need. Construction projects had to address waiting lists or expected demand and create capacity for at least 31 additional young people or adults. Employer cash or in-kind contributions were mandatory, and successful colleges had to be either be designated construction technical excellence colleges or work with their regional hub as a “spoke”. The fund is intended to contribute to the government’s ambition to train 60,000 additional construction workers by the end of this Parliament. Today’s announcement came alongside confirmation of bursaries worth up to £4,500 a year per household for universal credit families who could otherwise be left worse off when a young person starts an apprenticeship. Lucy Powell, the education secretary, said: “Too many young people face unnecessary barriers to apprenticeships, college places and training. We’re investing to change that. “This government is determined to help thousands more young people gain the skills, experience and confidence they need to build successful careers.” Post-16 capacity project winners Construction skills capacity project winners