Institutes of Technology
Updated 4 September 2023
Applies to England
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About Institutes of Technology
Institutes of Technology specialise in delivering higher technical education.
They bring education and business closer together, encouraging collaboration between colleges, universities and business, to create unique partnerships which deliver world class technical education.
They offer a wide range of training from level 3 (T-levels) to level 7 (Master’s degrees). They specialise in level 4 and 5 technical skills delivering Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs), professional training and higher and degree apprenticeships, across sectors such as:
- engineering and manufacturing
- digital
- construction
- health
- agri-tech
- media
Institutes of Technology help business to get the skilled workforce it needs. They offer learners an alternative route into high paid jobs and increased career opportunities.
Level 4 and 5 qualifications give students technical skills and occupational competencies that show employers they are ready for work. Qualified learners should be familiar with the workplace environment, equipment and methodologies required for a role in their chosen sector.
To find out more, visit the Institutes of Technology website.
What they are for
They are designed to:
- significantly increase the number of learners with higher technical qualifications, such as HTQs or higher or degree apprenticeships
- support learners who want flexible access to higher-level education, from school leavers to anyone in the current workforce who wants to upskill or reskill
- attract a diverse range of learners to address the lack of diversity in some parts of the technical workforce
- provide the skills that businesses need, both now and in the future, which are crucial to local, regional and national productivity and growth
How they were developed
The government is investing up to £300m to establish a network of 21 Institutes of Technology. They are spread across England, with many in areas where they are needed most, including priority levelling up areas such as Barking and Dagenham, Blackpool, Sunderland and Dudley.
There are 19 Institutes of Technology already open to learners, with training delivered from over 80 sites in areas such as Yorkshire, the North West, North East, West Midlands, East Midlands, South West, London and the South East.
Two more Institutes of Technology, covering Cheshire and Staffordshire, will open in September 2024.
There are 77 colleges, 35 universities, and 99 businesses involved directly across the 21 Institutes of Technology.
How they are different
Institutes of Technology differ from existing post-16 providers, like colleges and universities, in 4 main ways.
They bring together businesses with a group of education providers in a collaborative partnership to support the technical skills needs of the area they serve. Businesses are involved in the design and delivery of training, helping to shape the curriculum to suit their needs, ensuring they have access to a local technically skilled recruitment pool.
They offer flexible and affordable qualifications to people of all ages and backgrounds to equip them for rewarding and valuable technical roles. Each Institute of Technology has a specific target to increase underrepresentation, such as increasing the number of women working in some technical areas.
They use the latest applied research to anticipate the workplace skills required to harness new and emerging technologies, adopting agile approaches to ensure industry trends are quickly translated into the training environment. The Institute of Technology Network collaborates to share ideas and expertise.
They provide access to state of the art facilities and industry-standard equipment to embrace new technologies and methods of teaching. £300m of capital funding is supporting the creation of new and refurbished facilities to increase the sector’s capacity to deliver level 4 and 5 qualifications.
Partner with an Institute of Technology
Businesses are encouraged to work with Institutes of Technology to:
- meet your workforce needs
- improve your business productivity and innovation
- support economic growth locally and nationally
Visit partner with the Institutes of Technology for further information.
Apply to study at an Institute of Technology
Institutes of Technology provide flexible and affordable ways to gain new skills and accredited qualifications in future-focused fields whether you are looking to:
- start a new career
- advance in your current role
- retrain for a new job
Visit study with the Institutes of Technology for further information.
Find your local Institute of Technology
Visit find an Institute of Technology for details of:
- where Institute of Technology hubs are located
- which industries they specialise in
- who their further education and university partners are
- who their employer partners are