The first colleges to train 80 industry experts as teachers for part of the £5 million Taking Teaching Further scheme have been announced. The programme seeks to recruit industry specialists and retrain them to work in the post-16 and FE workforce, in an attempt to bring in more “diverse experiences and skills”. The scheme was unveiled in June, when it was announced that each provider would receive up to £20,000 to train up to five “experienced industry professionals” in a level-five diploma in education and training. This first round will focus on “priority sectors”, including T-levels in the fields of education and childcare, digital and construction, as well as engineering and manufacturing and other STEM subjects. On Friday, skills minister Anne Milton revealed the initial 23 providers who will take part in the programme and recruit 80 “expert” teachers, comprising 20 colleges, a county council and two independent learning providers. Also announced were 20 providers who will split £900,000 in funding to run “innovative projects”, exploring how industry and FE can work together. Some lucky institutions appear on both lists, and will be receiving money for both training industry experts and creating innovative projects, including Calderdale College, East Kent College, Northampton College, Petroc College, Walsall College and the Learning Skills Partnership. “We are transforming technical education in this country with the introduction of new T-levels,” Ms Milton said. “We want staff with industry skills to pass on their expertise to the next generation. “I’m thrilled that we have a chance to bring industry to colleges and it will be exciting to see the differences they can make to their colleges and the students they teach.” David Russell, chief executive of the Education and Training Foundation, which is managing the programme, said it will “add significant impetus to the recruitment of world-class teachers and trainers into FE”. “Those who have been successful in this first tranche will set a new benchmark for bringing in talent and expertise to improve technical teaching and support the development of our brilliant FE workforce.” The next round of the Taking Teaching Further programme will open for applications in December. The providers hosting the first TTF teachers Blackpool and the Fylde College Bridgewater and Taunton College Buckinghamshire College Group Calderdale College Capital City College Group City College Norwich City College Plymouth East Kent College Grimsby Institute Kirklees College Lakes College Learning Skills Partnership Leicester College Northampton College Northumberland County Council Oldham College Petroc College Reaseheath College St Helens Chamber Tameside College Walsall College West Suffolk College Providers to run first projects Abingdon and Witney College Bath College Blackburn College Bournemouth and Poole College Calderdale College DN Colleges Group East Kent College Genius Solutions Greater Manchester Learning Provider Network Harlow College Learning Skills Partnership London South East Colleges North Kent College Northampton College Petroc College Sandwell College The Consortium of Vocational and Educational Trainers The Isle of Wight College Walsall College Weston College