Labour delivers for next generation defence workers with £50m for Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, including at Rotherham College

The Labour Government has announced 5 Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) across England, supported by £50m in funding.

This is a commitment that the Government made in the Defence Industrial Strategy, and is now delivering on. 

DTECs will be existing further education colleges, recognised for providing ‘technical excellence’ and high-quality defence-focused education. They will provide training and education in crucial skills required by the defence sector, for students aged 16+, giving young people and adults the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to work well-paid, highly-skilled jobs and careers in the defence sector.

The five colleges have been selected through a competition process, run in collaboration between MOD and Department for Education, and include Rotherham College.

RNN Group (Rotherham College) will specialise in advanced manufacturing, defence engineering, secure digital and cyber systems, nuclear readiness, and defence logistics. The college has strong links to industry and located in one of the Defence Growth Deal areas.

Commenting, Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham said:

“I am delighted that Rotherham College has been successful in its bid to host a Defence Technical Excellence College.’

‘In an increasingly uncertain world, it is vital that Britain’s defence sector can access the skills that it needs to meet the challenges and threats that we face.’

‘Rotherham has a proud history of innovation in the defence industry, from the Walker Cannon to the Bailey Bridge, and I am pleased that the new centre will continue that long tradition.”

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said: 

“Labour is making Defence an engine for growth, and critical to that is ensuring we have a pipeline of skilled workers for the good, unionised jobs in the sector.’

‘We are backing young people across England today with a £50m investment in Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, and meeting the promises made in the Defence Industrial Strategy. This is the Labour Government delivering for the country and delivering for Defence”.

This Labour Government has committed to the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War. Investing £270bn across this parliament in defence and hitting 2.6% of GDP by April 2027 – a level not seen once under fourteen years of the previous government. 

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Defence Industrial Strategy 2025: Making Defence an Engine for Growth - GOV.UK