New College Swindon is among seven further education establishments across the south west to be awarded a share of a £48.5m fund to ensure young people studying pioneering T Level qualifications have access to the cutting-edge facilities and equipment they need.

The colleges are among 49 post-16 providers to secure funding from the government's T Level Capital Fund ahead of their roll-out of T Levels in September. The new technical qualifications - equivalent to three A Levels - combine classroom study with industry placements.

Adam Fahey, deputy principal, said:

“T Levels have been designed by panels of employers, amongst others, and the key has been to relate them to the requirements of a particular workplace environment or industry sector. They are very, very focused on the skills that you need to be successful in the workplace."