Posted: 7 August 2026
Following Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s roll out of plans to boost the availability of technical education routes, DN Colleges Group wishes to state its strong alignment with the goal of maximizing opportunities for learners, including those in the vocational sector.
As part of the fundamental changes, 14-year-olds will be able to get early access to technical education, skills training, work experience and connections with employers.
Furthermore, the initiative will offer learners the chance to combine core academic subjects – including English, maths and science – with a high-quality technical education that’s linked to the jobs available in respective geographical areas. Emphasis will be placed on giving students time with employers, so that they can gain vital, real-world experience.
Across our five-campus provision at Doncaster College, North Lindsey College, University Campus Doncaster, University Campus North Lincolnshire and the Humber Energy Skills Training Academy (HESTA), developing skilled individuals who are ready and equipped for the world of work, is at the heart of what we strive for.
Via our higher education degrees, HTQs, HNCs, HNDs and apprenticeships, as well as a lead partnership with the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology and active participation in the Lincolnshire Institute of Technology, we continue to harness and develop a learning portfolio which is subsequently helping to grow the next generation of practically proficient employees.
Institute of Technology involvement ensures that qualifications and courses are developed with local and national employers, giving students of all ages the practical skills and technical knowledge needed to stand out in the job market – while employers benefit from training that directly supports their business needs.
To meet the needs of an ever-evolving world, we’re pressing ahead with delivering programmes that ensure DN Colleges Group learners leave us prepared and ready to make a difference.
Our students won’t only just be prepared, they will have the tools to innovate, with the University Campus North Lincolnshire’s brand-new HNC Digital Technologies for England Artificial Intelligence (AI) Solutions and Applications course a testament to our responsive action.
Danny Fenwick, Principal & Acting CEO at DN Colleges Group, said: “Andy Burnham’s vision is a positive step towards giving young people more choice and ensuring technical education is valued alongside academic achievement.
“At DN Colleges Group, we already place a strong emphasis on meaningful work experience as an integral part of our vocational courses, with our dedicated Employer Engagement Teams working closely with curriculum and local businesses to create valuable opportunities for students.
“Strengthening these links between education and employers will help equip young people with the skills and experience they need to succeed in their future careers and onto positive destinations. At DN Colleges Group, we are proud that for the last three years, we have had 92% of our students progress onto positive destinations.”
To learn more about our FE-level programmes, please visit: https://northlindsey.ac.uk/, https://don.ac.uk/ & https://humberenergy.co.uk/
For further information in relation to Higher Education at DNCG, please visit: https://ucnl.ac.uk/ & https://www.ucdon.ac.uk/