New College Swindon has welcomed the government's announcement of a package of funding and measures today as part of a skills boost to support more people into jobs.

Last year the government announced a further nine Institutes of Technology (IoT) would be joining the new Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology which started delivering courses in September 2021.

Principal of New College Swindon, Carole Kitching said: “They offer great opportunities for young people, adults and employees to gain the higher skills they need for important career roles to plug the skills gaps in the region.

"Our own Swindon and Wiltshire IoT is already delivering Higher Education and Apprenticeships and we’re also currently offering free, online digital courses to working adults across the region.

"2022 will see the opening of the building and expansion of our courses so it’s an exciting year to look forward to."

The institutes encourages unique collaborations between employers, colleges and universities that specialise in offering Higher Technical Education and training in subjects such as advanced manufacturing, digital and cyber security and healthcare that will deliver the skilled workforce businesses need and get more people into jobs closer to home. 

New College has already invested nearly £2 million in industry-standard facilities for its current T Levels including hospital wards, a nursery, cyber lab and science wet lab; and students studying new T Levels in Accounting, Finance and Business Administration for September 2022 will also benefit from this funding.

From today, providers delivering T Levels can also bid for a share of over £150 million – from the fourth wave of the T Level Capital Fund - in readiness for those students starting courses such as animal management catering and media in September 2023.