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27th October 2021

The Department for Education (DfE), has recently announced that Ofsted Outstanding Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) is one of 100 education providers nationally to receive funding from the Growth Fund, to develop its facilities in preparation to deliver brand new Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) in 2023.

Part of the National Skills Fund, the £18M Growth Fund was set up to help providers invest in the resources needed to raise the prestige of Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) and develop the business links they need to offer qualifications in sectors with growing employer demand, such as digital, construction, health and science.

NSCG’s funding allocation, which totals in excess of £175,000, will be used at both the NSCG Newcastle College and NSCG Stafford College campuses to launch new digital HTQs, which will be biased towards the specialisms of digital technology, cloud computing, cyber-security, software development and network engineering.

Ahead of the new HTQs launching in September 2023, existing teaching spaces will be converted utilising design and product input from industry practitioners to create ‘best in sector’ digital laboratories and teaching spaces, which will be packed with leading edge equipment, software and other specialist resources.

Karen Dobson OBE, Principal & Chief Executive of NSCG said: “We are delighted to be awarded this funding to support the launch of brand new Higher Technical Qualifications at NSCG, which, together with our plans for the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology, forms a key part of our long-term strategic vision, and aligns to government priorities around investment in higher technical skills to support the economy and help our employer partners build back better from the pandemic. We have a long established reputation for investing in our campus and facilities to ensure learners have access to state-of-the-art resources and the highest levels of student support and this funding will allow us to create a forward-thinking employer responsive digital curriculum that will be delivered in innovative and inspiring teaching spaces, to help fill the skills gaps of tomorrow”.

Higher Technical Qualifications are a new, high-quality addition to technical training routes, alongside apprenticeships. To find out more about the Higher Education courses currently on offer at Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, click here.