£490 million announced to invest in teaching facilities at universities and colleges

Universities and colleges across England will benefit from a £490 million investment from government to deliver new facilities and support training opportunities.

One hundred colleges and universities have today (8 December) been awarded a share of £432 million to invest over the next three years to deliver high-quality training environments in growth areas such as STEM and to plug local skills gaps.

A further £57 million has been awarded to 20 higher education providers for 2022/23, who specialise in areas including science, agriculture, business as well as creative and performing arts, and will allow them to offer a wider range of courses to learners.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said

“Investing in education and skills will unlock future growth, boost productivity and help build the skilled workforce of the future.

“That’s why we’re spending £490 million to support high-quality teaching and world class facilities in universities and colleges right across the country.

“Whether it’s in aerospace engineering or green tech, this funding will provide young people with the support they need to build a great career.”

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said:

“This investment is about making sure students get the highest quality training in key subjects which are driving economic growth. That means access to top of the range facilities which prepare people for the workplace, filling skills gaps and levelling up the whole country.

“From Yeovil to Durham, we are backing the industries of the future and giving people the skills they need to succeed.”

Susan Lapworth, chief executive of the Office for Students (OfS), said:

“Investing in modern buildings and innovative equipment will help universities and colleges in England prepare students for their future careers. Modern labs and state of the art technology help students learn with the best facilities. The investment will also increase the provision of short courses that provide flexibility to boost the skills of the workforce.

“Competition for funding was strong, with high-quality applications from across the sector. The OfS-funded projects will ensure current and future students have a positive experience while studying expensive-to-deliver subjects that are strategically important to society. Taxpayers will feel these benefits too, as the investment will boost local and regional economies and support environmental sustainability.”

The multi-million pound allocation of funding builds on an existing £150 million investment by the OfS last year.