Leeds College of Building named one of first ‘Technical Excellence Colleges’

Only 10 colleges across England have been given the status for the 2025 to 2026 academic year, with LCB selected to represent the Yorkshire and the Humber region

Leeds College of Building (LCB) has been named one of the first ever ‘construction technical excellence colleges’ (CTEC) and will receive a share of £100 million in government funding to tackle construction skills shortages.

Only 10 colleges across England have been given the status for the 2025 to 2026 academic year, with LCB selected to represent the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

Ministers say the CTECs will train 40,000 people by 2029 in high-demand trades such as bricklaying, carpentry, roofing, and electrical work.

Technical excellence colleges are a new government designation for FE colleges that will receive extra funding to deliver training in sector shortages. Over the next four years, each will receive a share of £80 million in capital and £20 million in revenue.

This first wave covers construction and is in addition to £625 million announced for the sector in March to cover 60,000 training places through foundation apprenticeships, skills boot camps, and other funded construction courses. 

The government hopes these initiatives will plug skills shortages in the construction industry and “backs the British working class” by reducing the sector’s reliance on overseas workers. Today’s announcement confirms a CTEC in each region of England.

Leeds College of Building will now act as a “hub” in its region and partner with “spoke” local training providers and employers to expand courses to more learners and improve training standards. 

LCB is the UK's only specialist Further Education college dedicated to the Construction and Built Environment sector. The college works with over 800 employer partners, including NG Bailey, BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall, and JN Bentley. 

Colleges had to bid for the status earlier this year. The Department for Education (DfE) said it received 51 applications in total.

Other winning colleges are Derby College Group, West Suffolk College, New City College, City of Sunderland College, Wigan and Leigh College, North Kent College, Exeter College, The Bedford College Group, and Dudley College of Technology.