Blackpool and The Fylde College chosen to be new Defence Technical College

Blackpool and the Fylde College has been chosen to provide major new courses linked to Britain’s defence industry and potentially “highly-skilled, well-paid jobs”, thanks to a £10m investment.

The College has been selected as one of five new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges to offer vital skills training for the defence industries, as the Government looks to bolster Britain’s security in an increasingly unsafe world.

The courses are expected to begin in September this year. The move is part of the government’s wider launch of 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges to train key skills for growth industries across the UK.

Defence minister Luke Pollard, who visited the college’s Bispham campus on Monday, said: “We’re able to announce that the Ministry of Defence is investing £50m in five new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, one of which is Blackpool and the Fylde College. It’s an investment of £10m for Blackpool.

“It will help the colleges prepare for new courses and purchase new teaching equipment to boost defence-related skills and education.

“The world is becoming increasingly dangerous, so we’re investing in vital new defence-related skills across the board .

“This will be an incredible opportunity for young people to train for careers in defence industries at a time when we’re looking to increase the defence budget. Young people will be able to get really good, well-paid and highly-skilled jobs for years ahead.

“The Blackpool bid was really strong and there are great opportunities at BAE Systems with work on the Typhoon and nuclear subs at Barrow.

“There is extensive demand already with up to 300 SMEs ( Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) expressing interest in the skills which will be offered. This will be a life-changing opportunity for young people in the North West.”

Around 65,000 learners, backed by £175 million of government funding, will now have access to training for high-demand jobs in Britain’s fastest-growing industries, as the government rolls out the next wave of 19 Technical Excellence Colleges, including Blackpool and The Fylde.

It is already a busy and productive time for Blackpool and The Fylde College. It is leading the development of the £65m Multiversity, a new carbon-neutral town centre campus in Blackpool, set to open in 2027.

The project serves as a state-of-the-art replacement for existing facilities, aiming to house 3,000-plus learners and connect with local industries for higher education and skill development.

In addition, last month a public consultation was held on a proposed merger of Blackpool and the Fylde  and Furness College, based in Barrow,  aimed at bringing together the respective strengths, expertise and resources of both organisations while retaining their existing names, local identities and campus locations.

Alun Francis, Chief Executive of Blackpool and The Fylde College, said: “We are proud to be designated as a Defence Technical Excellence College for the North West.

“This represents a significant opportunity to contribute to national security while also supporting our learners across further and higher education, alongside employers and the wider defence supply chain.

“Given the growing importance of the defence sector, it is vital that we continue to strengthen skills pipelines in key areas such as engineering, nuclear and cyber security.

“Defence also drives innovation and we are excited to be working with an expanded network of partners to enhance provision, support workforce development and contribute further towards both regional economic growth and national capability.”

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, which endorsed the bid, said: “This is a major investment in Blackpool and the Fylde coast’s skills base. It aligns with our ambition for Blackpool to be a place where young people can train for quality jobs and build successful futures locally.”

“That vision will be supported by our commitment to creating high-quality employment opportunities, including through developments such as Silicon Sands, alongside investment in world-class education facilities like the Multiversity.

“This announcement supports our ambition for Blackpool to be a place where people can see clear opportunities for their future.”