Telford College has welcomed announcements in today’s Budget spelling out extra investment for further education and skills-boosting schemes.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak says £1.6 billion will be made available over three years to roll out new T-levels, with a further £550 million to be invested in adult skills.
Just under £2 billion of new funding will also be made available to help schools and colleges to recover from the pandemic, it has been revealed.
Telford College is committed to rolling out T-levels – a technical and vocational alternative to A-levels – from 2023, with an initial focus on Digital, Health and Engineering courses.
Graham Guest, Telford College principal and chief executive, said: “The Budget contained some great news for further education colleges, and we are excited to find out more details.
“Our Strategic Plan, launched last year, is our foundation for moving forward with the Government’s skills agenda.
“We are already seeing evidence of plans becoming reality, with millions of pounds of investment in improved learning facilities at our Haybridge campus, and an exciting collaboration to open a new maths and digital learning hub in Telford’s Station Quarter.
“The Government wants to see further education more closely aligned with the needs of employers, playing a pivotal role in the local economy in a financially sustainable way.
“We are committed to working with other providers across the region to ensure we align our curriculum to the needs of local employers.”
Mr Guest welcomed the Government’s plans to introduce a new ‘Multiply’ programme, spending £560 million to improve numeracy levels.
“Here at Telford College we have always believed that basic maths and English skills are the foundation for all careers – so any initiatives which build on this belief can only be good news.”
He also welcomed news that apprenticeship funding will also increase by £170 million to £2.7 billion in 2024/25 under the new package announced by the Government today.
