What is the T Level Capital Fund?
The T Level Capital Fund presents an excellent opportunity for schools and colleges to enhance their facilities and deliver exceptional technical education.
T Levels are two-year long, level 3 technical study programmes for 16-19 year-olds designed in partnership with businesses and employers. They combine classroom learning with extended industry placements to give students the skills and experience they need to succeed in a range of industries.
The T-Level Capital Fund (TLCF) has been put in place by the government to help support education providers in delivering T Levels as part of their curriculum. The fund is designed to give students access to good quality facilities and industry-standard equipment to help them gain the skills and knowledge they need.
At Eddisons, we specialise in supporting educational institutions with successful T-Level Capital Fund applications and project management.
There are two elements of the fund; Specialist Equipment Allocation (SEA) and Competitive Buildings and Facilities Improvement Grant (BFIG). Eddisons specifically provide advice and applications for the BFIG element. The fund is available to schools and colleges offering T-Level qualifications to enhance their technical education provisions.
Who can apply for T-level funding?
You can apply for T-Level capital funding if you run a school, academy, further education college, sixth form college, higher education institution or university technical college. You must also not have previously received a Buildings and Facilities Improvement Grant to deliver T Level qualifications at your institution.
How to apply for a BGIF
If a Buildings and Facilities Improvement Grant is more suited to you and you organisation, you can complete an application online. You should apply if you need capital funding to improve or expand your education estates to support the delivery of T Levels. The grant can be spent on:
- Estate improvement projects that better the condition of your estate and can include remodelling and/or refurbishment.
- Estate expansion projects to increase your internal floor area by extending your existing space or adding a mezzanine, for example.
The maximum amount of funding that’s available for each estate is capped at £4 million per site and there’s a minimum project value of £250,000 per application. You should make sure the amount you ask for is proportionate to the number of T Levels you plan to introduce and the size of your student cohort.
Key dates
In order to introduce T Levels for the first time in the 2025/2026 academic year, the registration must be completed before midnight on March 22, 2024.
Access the registration portal and supporting guidance on GOV.UK.
For those starting T Level delivery from September 2026, a new registration process will commence on March 25, 2024, and conclude on March 21, 2025.
Why use Eddisons?
If you are a school or sixth form college about to start providing T Level courses, the funding will help ensure that your premises reach the standard required in order to offer high level qualifications and education for students taking these courses.
As the courses are considerably different from any previously offered it is likely that changes will need to be made to configuration of buildings or indeed there may be a requirement to add new buildings in order to ensure the best quality courses are available at each school or college. The T level capital fund means that the finance is available for establishments in order to make that happen.
For the best chance of success with your bid, it’s advisable to seek expert help from specialist chartered surveyors for education such as Eddisons.
We can advise on all aspects of the BFIG process and produce the application on your behalf. We have already secured over £120 million in funding for schools, colleges and academies and can do the same for you. Find out more about our T-level funding service and get in touch to arrange your free consultation.
