Colleges keen to upgrade their facilities in the run-up to delivering the new T levels can now bid for money from a new government fund.

The T Level Capital Fund, announced by the chancellor in the 2018 budget, offers a £38 million funding boost to help build new classrooms, refurbish buildings and upgrade equipment in the run-up to institutions delivering the new qualifications from September 2020

From today, eligible further education providers are being invited to bid for funding to refurbish existing buildings or to build new spaces, while funding for specialist equipment will be allocated to all providers in spring 2020.

The first T level courses in education, construction and digital will be taught by over 50 further education and post-16 providers from September 2020.

Skills minister Anne Milton said it was vital young people taking T levels had access to “the latest, high-quality equipment and state-of-the-art facilities during their studies”. She added: “The T Level Capital Fund will help those further education providers at the forefront of delivering these important reforms to be ready to teach T levels from September 2020.”