Yeovil College Partnership Secures Prestigious Defence Technical Excellence College (D‑TEC) Status

The Yeovil College D-TEC consortium is proud to announce that it has been successfully awarded Defence Technical Excellence College (D‑TEC) status following a highly competitive national application process led by the Department for Education (DfE). 

The Yeovil College consortium is one of only five providers in England to achieve Defence Technical Excellence designation with a budget of 182 million, recognising exceptional quality, ambition and credibility in delivering advanced technical education aligned to the needs of the defence sector, and part of the wider defence strategy. 

The Department for Education confirmed the outcome today and provided strong positive feedback on the college’s submission, noting the strength and quality of the bid. 

D‑TEC status recognises colleges that demonstrate the capability, leadership and readiness to deliver high‑quality technical education at pace and scale, working closely with employers and partners to address critical national skills needs.  

Key partners involved 

The successful D‑TEC bid is underpinned by established, long‑term partnerships with major defence employers, higher education and innovation bodies. 

Defence employers 

• Leonardo UK 

• Thales UK 

• TKMS Atlas UK 

• BAE Systems 

• Honeywell Europe 

• Tods Defence 

• Morson Edge 

• SWRDSC 

These employers support curriculum co‑design, apprenticeships, placements, staff development and direct recruitment. 

Higher Education 

• University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) – progression to higher‑level and degree study, and collaboration in robotics, cyber security and systems engineering. 

Innovation & Skills Infrastructure 

• Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) 

• National Composites Centre (NCC) 

• iAero – Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence 

• Dorset Innovation Park and BattleLab 

• Bristol Robotics Laboratory 

Civic and skills system partners 

• Somerset Council and Dorset Council 

• Business West 

• Somerset and Dorset Chambers of Commerce 

• South West Regional Defence & Security Cluster 

This success reflects the college’s sustained focus on technical excellence, collaboration, employer engagement and learner progression, and positions Yeovil College as a nationally recognised centre of excellence within the defence skills landscape. 

Mark Bolton, Principal & CEO, Yeovil College, said: 

“This is a significant achievement for our college and the collaboration within the South West community we serve, a testament to the capability, expertise, commitment and ambition of our colleagues and partners. Being recognised as one of just five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges in England underlines the confidence the Department for Education has in our vision and our ability to deliver. 

“As a D‑TEC, Yeovil College will play a key role in strengthening the pipeline of skilled talent into defence‑related industries, supporting both regional economic growth and national priorities.” 

This achievement furthers the capability of Yeovil College and its partners. At Yeovil College, this adds to the existing Office for Students investment to provide almost £3.5m over the last two years for Advanced Manufacturing equipment which includes the first hydrogen training facility in the country. And the £60m + DfE funded Big Build, now in its latter phases, which has seen two buildings already completed and the final largest building now out of the ground, transforming Further Education for South Somerset, North and West Dorset, and the wider Wessex region. 

What is a Defence Technical Excellence College? 

The D‑TEC programme is designed to strengthen the UK’s defence skills pipeline by: 

• Delivering high‑quality technical education, from entry level through to higher and degree‑level skills 

• Ensuring provision is co‑designed and co‑delivered with defence employers 

• Creating clear pathways into skilled defence employment, apprenticeships and higher‑level study 

• Using a national hub‑and‑spoke model, with leading colleges raising quality and capacity across the further education system 

As a D‑TEC, Yeovil College will act as a national hub of excellence, supporting defence skills delivery locally, regionally and across other defence clusters in England. 

Why D-TEC Matters Nationally 

• Yeovil College is part of a very small national cohort trusted to lead defence skills delivery 

• The programme supports the Defence Industrial Strategy, strengthening sovereign capability and supply chains 

• Employers gain access to a reliable, high‑quality pipeline of skilled talent 

• Learners are supported into high‑value, high‑skill defence careers. 

Local Impact  

For the Yeovil constituency, D‑TEC status reinforces the area’s position at the heart of a nationally significant defence and aerospace ecosystem. Building on long‑standing relationships with employers such as Leonardo and Thales, the College will expand access to high‑quality technical education and apprenticeships, supporting local residents into skilled, well‑paid employment. 

The designation will help attract inward investment, specialist facilities and equipment, strengthen collaboration with local authorities and innovation centres, and ensure that young people and adults can progress from education into secure defence and advanced manufacturing careers without leaving the area. This directly supports local economic resilience, productivity and long‑term skills sustainability.