Milton Keynes College Group has secured more than £2 million in government funding to create additional teaching space as demand for post-16 education and skills training grows across the city.

The Department for Education investment has been awarded through the Post-16 and Construction Skills Capacity Fund, which supports providers seeking to increase education and training capacity. Milton Keynes College is included among the successful projects announced by the government.

The funding will be used to transform existing parts of the College Group’s estate into additional classrooms and other learning environments. The specific sites and buildings involved have not been disclosed.

The project is intended to increase teaching capacity as student numbers rise, while supporting the College Group’s plans for further growth.

Students are expected to begin using the additional learning space during the 2026/27 academic year.

Sally Alexander MBE, CEO and Group Principal of Milton Keynes College Group, said: “We are delighted to have secured this important investment from the Department for Education. Demand for post-16 education and training continues to grow, and this funding will enable us to create additional high-quality teaching and learning space for our learners.

“By transforming existing areas of our estate into modern, fit-for-purpose learning environments, we are making the best possible use of our facilities while ensuring we have the capacity to meet future demand. This investment supports our ambitions with our strategic plan and our commitment to providing the education, skills and opportunities that individuals, communities and employers need to thrive.”

Alexander’s role as CEO and Group Principal is confirmed by Milton Keynes College Group.

The investment comes as the College Group prepares to launch a new strategic plan in September, with a focus on responding to local skills needs and increasing its capacity to support learners and employers.

All three Milton Keynes MPs have welcomed the announcement.

Callum Anderson, MP for Buckingham and Bletchley, said: “MK College is one of Milton Keynes’ great success stories, and I have the privilege of visiting its Bletchley campus regularly.

“This latest investment, alongside the College’s selection as one of only 19 Centres of Technical Excellence nationwide, demonstrates the Government’s strong commitment to high-quality post-16 education and skills training.

“This is particularly important as Milton Keynes and the wider region prepare to benefit from major opportunities such as East West Rail and the arrival of Universal Studios. Ensuring local people have the technical skills and qualifications needed to seize these opportunities will be critical to driving economic growth, creating well-paid jobs and helping our young people get good jobs where they are from.”

Chris Curtis, MP for Milton Keynes North, said: “Milton Keynes was built by those who had the right skills at the right time.

“With our city growing and exciting regional projects like East West Rail and Universal Studios on our doorstep, it has never been more important that our young people are connected with education and training opportunities that can unlock their potential and bring growth to our city.

“Milton Keynes College is a fantastic champion for their learners and for Milton Keynes, and I am extremely pleased to see this £2m investment. Young people in our city must be able to find rewarding and secure work, no matter their postcode.”

Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central, said: “Milton Keynes has always been a city that thinks big. It was built on ambition, innovation and the idea that we can do things differently, and I want the next generation growing up here to inherit that same sense of possibility.

“That’s why this £2 million investment in Milton Keynes College is so important. As our city grows and new opportunities come our way, we need to make sure our young people have the skills to be the ones shaping what comes next.

“MK College is a huge part of that by giving young people the chance to turn their ambitions into great careers and making sure the growth and innovation happening in Milton Keynes benefits the people who call it home.”

The additional capacity is expected to support progression into higher education, apprenticeships and employment while giving the College Group greater scope to respond to changing skills requirements across Milton Keynes and the wider region.