The names of more than 100 FE and HE providers to win a slice of an £18 million ‘growth fund‘ to invest in technical education equipment have been revealed.
Colleges and universities receiving the funding will be able to by new kit such as virtual reality goggles, therapeutic play equipment for children, and air quality testing equipment to support them to offer more level 4 and 5 training.
The Department for Education said the funding will also “help them to boost links with local businesses in key sectors such as digital, construction and healthcare”.
It is being funded from the National Skills Fund, of which £50 million was earmarked for “capital investment to drive up higher technical provision” in the November 2020 spending review.
The growth fund follows a review of higher technical education concluded by the government in July 2020.
Ministers have since pledged to introduce newly approved HTQs from September 2022, supported by a government-backed brand and quality mark.
As well as the growth fund, the DfE has today announced that 10 Institutes of Technology will offer 65 new higher technical education courses for free to adults later this month (click here for full story).
The Growth Fund winners are (click here for PDF):
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