Overview

• The £275m package will finance technical excellence colleges, AI and digital manufacturing short courses and capital upgrades across England.
• It aims to address persistent shortages in engineering, defence and high-growth sectors such as battery production and advanced manufacturing.
• Officials say the plan will foster a domestic talent pipeline to cut dependence on foreign labour and shore up critical industries.
• Ministers present the funding as the first concrete step in a broader 10-year growth plan that builds on earlier AI training and a £3bn apprenticeship fund.
• The strategy is projected to create 1.1 million jobs by 2035 and will include a trade plan to boost exports and supply chain connectivity.