Young people across Southport are set to benefit from a national multi-million-pound fund aimed at making sure those studying pioneering new T Level qualifications from 2022 have access to world class facilities and equipment.

The new technical qualifications - equivalent to three A Levels - combine classroom study with industry placements so that students gain the skills and experience they need to progress into work, further study or an apprenticeship.

T Level courses have been co-created with over 250 employers including Fujitsu and Amazon so they generate the skilled workforce that businesses need for the future. The first three T Levels in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction, Digital Production, Design and Development and Education and Childcare were introduced last September.

A further seven will be available from this year in subjects including Health, Science and Onsite Construction and subjects including Finance, Media and Legal will be introduced from next year.

T Level providers across the country can now bid for a share of £135 million, through the T Level Capital Fund, to upgrade classrooms and buildings in readiness for students starting courses in September 2022. Part of this funding will also be made available to pay for specialist kit such as surveying equipment and engineering tools to make sure students have access to the industry standard devices they need to be ready for the workplace.

The funding announced today brings the total capital investment by the government to support T Levels to over quarter of a billion pounds.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said: “The successful launch of T Levels earlier this year represents the start of a transformation in our technical education system – giving young people the vital skills they need to get ahead and giving employers the talented workforce they need to thrive as we build back better from the pandemic.

“To deliver world class qualifications providers need to have world class facilities and cutting-edge equipment, this funding will help to make sure students have the skills and knowledge to succeed when they finish their T Levels.”

The government has also unveiled the first 56 projects for post-16 providers delivering T Levels from September 2021 totalling £48.5m of the £95m announced at Budget 2020.

Successful projects include a new civil engineering centre at the Lakes College in Cumbria to support construction T Levels, and a brand-new teaching block at Burnley College that will include classrooms, an elite athlete gym and a sports therapy space to support their delivery of health T Levels.

Damien Moore, the Conservative MP for Southport, said: “This is great news for young people here in Southport. T Levels will play a key part in rebuilding the economy after the pandemic, boosting access to high quality technical education.”

The progress made so far on delivering the new qualifications is outlined in the latest T Level Action Plan, including an update on the launch of the first three T Levels in September 2020, and the criteria for providers wishing to deliver in 2023 and beyond.

Damien Moore, the Conservative MP for Southport, said:

This is great news for young people here in Southport. T Levels will play a key part in rebuilding the economy after the pandemic, boosting access to high quality technical education.

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