Telford College has been selected as a key partner in a government-backed scheme to train the next generation of workers for the defence industry. The initiative, announced on 15 April 2026, is part of a £50 million national investment aimed at boosting technical skills across the country.
As a delivery partner for the East and West Midlands region, the college is working alongside Lincoln College to support the programme. While five other colleges across the UK have been designated as official Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, Telford College will provide essential training in areas including engineering, cyber security, digital technologies, and advanced manufacturing.
This project builds on an existing partnership between the college and Babcock International, which operates at the Ministry of Defence site at Donnington. Through this collaboration, T-Level and engineering students gain hands-on experience by working alongside trained mentors in a professional engineering environment. To support this growth, the college is expanding its Wellington campus by moving A Level teaching to the new Telford 6th centre at Station Quarter, which is set to open in September 2026.
Principal Lawrence Wood described the partnership as transformational for the college and local students. Local MP Shaun Davies added that the investment will benefit the community and the local economy for decades to come, helping to secure the skills needed for the UK to become a leader in the defence industry by 2035.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP noted that the investment fulfils promises made in the national Defence Industrial Strategy to back young people with world-class technical education.
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