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The government has announced its second wave of Technical Excellence Colleges this April 2026 and Gloucestershire College is one of them. 

One of 19 institutions given the prestigious title and one of only five Technical Excellence Colleges specifically recognised for Digital and Technologies in the UK, Gloucestershire College will receive a share of £175 million in government funding. 

The college not only met, but exceeded a range of criteria to qualify as a TEC, including demonstrating strong employer partnerships and alignment with sector priorities.  

Chief financial officer, Andy Bates, said: 'We are proud at Gloucestershire College to be recognised by the Department for Education as a Technical Excellence College for Digital... reflecting our strong partnerships with employers and CyNam, and our shared commitment to delivering high-quality, employer-led digital skills that support both local and national workforce needs.

'We look forward to building on the strong foundations we have already established, continuing to bring together employers and academic expertise to drive innovation and opportunity for learners.'

It plans to use its share of the funding to further invest in its Advanced Digital Academy at its Cheltenham campus – which gives learners hands-on experience with cutting-edge equipment, guided by experts – to help it continue delivering high-quality pathways for young people in the county and supporting the homegrown talent local employers need.

Providing young people with a high-quality technical route which is valued just as highly as a university education, TECs like Gloucestershire College will enable around 65,000 young people across the UK to access the training needed to meet demand in fast-growing sectors including clean energy, defence and digital, with these industries requiring an estimated 600,000 additional workers by 2030. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 'I want every young person to know there is a clear route into well‑paid work, whatever their background. These colleges put technical skills front and centre, opening up high‑quality jobs in the industries driving Britain’s future.

'We are backing talent across the country, strengthening our workforce and making sure opportunity is built into the system – not left to chance.'

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith added: 'The industries that will define Britain's future – clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defence, digital – need a pipeline of highly skilled workers, and we're building it.

'This investment in new Technical Excellence Colleges will give learners across England access to world-class training and a clear route into well-paid, rewarding careers. And because the best colleges will share their expertise with others, the whole country benefits.

'This is skills investment that works for learners, for employers, and for the regions driving growth across the country. They’ll deliver local jobs for local people, as well as growth for the whole of the country.'