Sparsholt College Group has announced a multi-million-pound investment across both Sparsholt and Andover campuses in readiness for the delivery of new T Level qualifications. T Level qualifications will be delivered at both campuses thanks to investment from the Department for Education (DfE).
The Department for Education (DfE) recently announced the outcome of the T Level Capital Fund applications and confirmed that proposed projects for Digital, Construction, and Health and Science at Andover College and Agriculture, Environmental, and Animal Care at Sparsholt College have been awarded a total of £2.2million investment.
College Group Principal Julie Milburn said: “The introduction of T Level qualifications is an exciting time; with new qualifications which meet the needs of local employers, and which have been designed to provide parity of regard between vocational and academic qualifications. The College Group is grateful for this investment from the Department for Education which will provide us with continued investment in the modern industry standard facilities that our learners need and deserve.”
Sparsholt College Campus will see the installation of a new Robotic Milking Parlour and the development of Agricultural Technologies to support the roll out of the T Level in September 2023 and 2024 in Agriculture, Environmental and Animal Care. The investment will allow learners to complete technical qualifications in Livestock Farming, Arable Farming, Land-based Engineering, Tree and Woodland Management, and Ornamental Horticulture specialisms.
At Andover Campus, the investment will allow for the expansion of the Technology and Future Skills Centre to provide for the delivery of the Onsite Construction T Level, with extended facilities for Bricklaying and Carpentry. New facilities are also currently being developed for the delivery of T Levels in Digital Development and Production, and Nursing. Digital investment will provide for multimedia facilities, offer a broadcasting suite, and provide a new cyber security laboratory. The new nursing facility will provide mock wards, consultation facilities and mock ups of domestic care settings with the appropriate equipment.
Kit Malthouse, MP for North West Hampshire helped secure the government funding, he said: “We’re lucky to have such a fantastic institution as Sparsholt College Group with its Andover and Sparsholt Campuses at the heart of our community, and this funding is very good news. It will give young people the chance to train in modern, industry-standard facilities. It will equip them with the practical and advanced technical skills they need to go on and get good careers in our competitive local industries be it construction, healthcare, agriculture, nursing or digital.”