The Minister for Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education, Alyn Smith, has confirmed a £10 million investment to support the development of two Defence Technical Excellence Colleges (DTECs) in Scotland.

A spokesperson for Colleges Scotland said:

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment of £10 million to establish two new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, with one located in the east of Scotland and the other in the west.

“This builds on the £10 million skills investment announced as part of the UK Government’s Defence Growth Deal for Scotland in March, which recognised the central role colleges can play in developing the skills pipeline needed by the defence sector, having been developed in consultation with Colleges Scotland.

“Scotland’s colleges already work closely with defence employers and supply chain companies to equip learners with the high-quality technical skills the industry relies on. From engineering and advanced manufacturing to welding and digital technologies, colleges are helping to develop the workforce needed for a growing and increasingly sophisticated sector.

“The creation of the Defence Technical Excellence Colleges will strengthen that contribution further, placing colleges at the heart of efforts to deliver the skilled workforce required to support Scotland’s defence industry and wider economic growth.”