The Government’s expansion of Technical Excellence Colleges is a welcome step toward addressing Britain’s ‘missing middle’ in higher technical education. However, to drive genuine growth, we must move beyond ‘alphabet soup’ branding, to ensure clear progression and accessibility for learners at all stages of life.

When we align high-level learning with regional economies, we create a powerful engine for equity.

Are the recent skills policy announcements creating a coherent ladder of opportunity, or simply adding new rungs without a clear route upwards?