Milton Keynes College gains Technical Excellence status in digital skills
£175m initiative to train 65,000 youth in key growth industries
Milton Keynes College has been selected as one of the new Technical Excellence Colleges under a £175 million government initiative aimed at empowering the next generation of British workers with critical skills in digital technologies.
Set to begin delivery in April 2026, Milton Keynes College will serve as a hub for digital skills training, reflecting its status as an innovation leader in AI and robotics positioned within the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
The college will partake in the program to equip 65,000 young learners with technical abilities needed for well-paid, high-skilled jobs in priority growth sectors.
Sally Alexander, CEO of Milton Keynes College said: "“Being recognised as a Technical Excellence College is a proud moment for Miton Keynes College Group, but more than that, it’s a responsibility.
“We are here to make sure that the government’s digital ambitions translate into real opportunities for real people – learners, employers, and communities across our region.”
The Technical Excellence Colleges initiative is part of a broader government strategy to ensure skill investment that works for learners and employers, delivering local jobs and strengthening Britain’s future industry workforce.
This selection builds upon the initial rollout of Technical Excellence Colleges in 2025, which began transforming teaching, facilities, and partnerships.
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 said: "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."