Introduction and purpose of the programme

The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA) is launching a £9.3 million Post-16 Capital Investment Programme to support the expansion and improvement of post-16 education and training capacity across Devon and Torbay between 2026 and 2030. 

The funding has been devolved to DTCCA by the Department for Education to support the statutory responsibility to secure sufficient suitable education and training provision for young people aged 16 to 19. As a devolved authority, DTCCA is responsible for determining how this funding is commissioned locally in response to forecast learner demand, participation challenges and the changing needs of the local economy. 

The programme is being delivered against a backdrop of significant demographic growth in the 16 to 19 population across Devon and Torbay over the remainder of the decade. Current forecasts indicate growth of approximately 1,595 additional post-16 learners across Devon and Torbay between 2024 and 2030. Growth is not evenly distributed geographically as can be seen below: 

Strategic Travel-to-Learn Area	Principal Areas Included	Forecast Additional Learners (2024 to 2030)	Share of Total Growth
Exeter and Wider Travel-to-Learn Area	Exeter, East Devon, Teignbridge and Mid Devon	847	53.1%
North Devon and Torridge	North Devon and Torridge	388	24.3%
Torbay	Torbay	126	7.9%
Rural and Coastal Delivery Area	South Hams, West Devon and Wider rural and coastal communities	234	14.7%
Total		1,595	100%

The DTCCA’s Skills priorities are centred on overcoming barriers to learning, enabling all young people to thrive, and ensuring businesses have access to the skilled workforce they need to grow. While forecast post-16 learner growth is a key factor in determining investment priorities, demographic growth alone is not sufficient to determine the allocation of funding. The programme has therefore been designed around three complementary strategic priorities: 

• Supporting areas experiencing the greatest learner growth, particularly the major further education travel-to-learn area centred on Exeter and its surrounding growth corridor, where significant demographic growth is creating increasing demand for post-16 places 
• Responding to labour market and participation challenges, particularly within North Devon and Torbay, where workforce shortages coincide with higher concentrations of young people at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET).
• Improving access in rural and coastal communities, where geography, transport constraints, travel distances and limited local provision create barriers to participation and require more flexible and locally accessible models of post-16 education and training, even where learner numbers are comparatively smaller. 

In response, the DTCCA will adopt a commissioning-led approach to investment through this programme. Funding will not be allocated through a simple geographic distribution model. Instead, investment will be targeted towards those locations, providers and delivery models where evidence demonstrates the greatest strategic need and the strongest potential to increase learner participation, address labour market priorities, improve accessibility and expand post-16 capacity. 

The programme has therefore been structured around two distinct commissioning approaches: 

• strategic place creation and expansion within the main FE growth centres; 
• a dedicated rural and coastal delivery ringfence focused on accessibility and local delivery challenges. 

Although the programme is intended to strengthen post-16 education and training opportunities across Devon and Torbay, the Department for Education funding arrangements require all applications to be led by an eligible further education college acting as the accountable body. The Authority expects colleges to work collaboratively with schools, academies, sixth forms, local independent training providers and other local partners where this will improve access to learning, overcome barriers to participation and deliver the greatest benefit for young people. Partnership-based proposals that demonstrate a coordinated local response to learner need will therefore be strongly encouraged. 

The strategic place creation element of the programme is intended to address large-scale learner growth and existing capacity pressures within the principal further education travel-to-learn areas. This includes investment in additional teaching accommodation, specialist facilities and sector-based provision aligned to forecast demographic growth and local labour market need. 

Alongside this, the rural and coastal access and participation element of the programme is intended to support more flexible and locally responsive provision within communities where participation barriers are driven primarily by geography, transport constraints and limited accessibility to provision. 

This may include outreach provision, partnership delivery models with schools and academies, shared specialist facilities, transition provision and smaller-scale local learning infrastructure where there is evidence that accessibility barriers are contributing to disengagement or NEET risk. 

The overall intention of the programme is therefore not solely to increase the overall volume of post-16 provision, but to support a more accessible, responsive and sustainable post-16 system across Devon and Torbay which better reflects local patterns of learner demand and participation. A transparent and evidence-led commissioning approach has been applied to developing indicative funding allocations using forecast learner growth and identified participation pressures across the area. 

The indicative allocations shown in Table 2 have been informed by Department for Education post-16 learner growth forecasts for the period 2024 to 2030. Allocations have been developed using forecast learner growth as the primary factor, recognising the statutory duty to secure sufficient suitable education and training provision. However, allocations have also been moderated to reflect wider participation challenges, accessibility barriers, concentrations of young people at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET), and the additional costs associated with delivering provision across large rural and coastal geographies. 

The programme therefore intentionally combines strategic investment in the areas of highest forecast learner growth with a dedicated funding approach focused on rural and coastal accessibility challenges where barriers to participation are often driven by geography and transport rather than population size alone. 

Funding through the programme must be used for capital expenditure which directly contributes to the creation or improvement of post-16 education and training capacity. This includes teaching accommodation, specialist facilities, outreach infrastructure and associated learning environments required to support additional learner participation. 

This is a competitive commissioning process and demand for funding is expected to exceed the available allocation. Applications will therefore be assessed against the Authority’s strategic priorities, evidence of demand, contribution to participation and accessibility, deliverability and value for money. 

Strategic area	Forecast learner growth (2024 to 2030)	Strategic focus	Comissioned allocation
Exeter and Wider Travel-to-Learn Area (including Exeter, East Devon, Teignbridge and Mid Devon)	847	Major FE place expansion, specialist provision and growth capacity	£4,949,779
North Devon and Torridge	388	FE capacity expansion alongside rural accessibility challenges and participation pressures	£2,269,337
Torbay	126	Coastal participation pressures, vulnerable learner support and place creation	£738,910
Rural and Coastal (including South Hams, West Devon and wider rural and coastal communities)	234	Flexible outreach, accessibility and locally responsive provision	£1,368,900
Total	1,595		£9,326,925

Strategic Context and Priorities

The Devon and Torbay Post-16 Capital Investment Programme has been developed in response to forecast growth in the 16 to 19 population across Devon and Torbay, alongside increasing pressure on participation, accessibility and post-16 capacity across the local education and skills system. 

Current forecasts indicate that the post-16 population across Devon and Torbay will increase by approximately 1,595 learners between 2024 and 2030. Demand pressures are expected to intensify between 2026 and 2029 as larger learner cohorts move through the education system. 

However, both learner growth and participation pressures are unevenly distributed across the area. The most significant demand pressures are concentrated within a number of established FE travel-to-learn areas, particularly around Exeter and its surrounding growth corridor, North Devon and Torbay. These areas combine: 

• significant demographic growth; 
• existing recruitment and application pressure; 
• constrained post-16 capacity; 
• concentrations of young people at risk of becoming not in education, employment or training (NEET); 
• and strong labour market demand linked to local economic growth sectors. 

Forecast learner growth is particularly concentrated within the Exeter and wider travel-to-learn area, including Exeter, East Devon, Teignbridge and Mid Devon, which together account for more than half of projected post-16 population growth across Devon and Torbay. 

Alongside this, North Devon and Torridge continue to experience significant accessibility pressures linked to rurality, travel distances and limited alternative provision, while Torbay faces distinct participation and deprivation challenges alongside continuing pressure on local FE capacity. Both areas also experience sustained demand for skilled workers in sectors including engineering, manufacturing, construction, health and care, hospitality and digital. Ensuring sufficient local post-16 capacity is therefore important not only to meet learner demand but also to support employers by developing the skilled workforce needed to sustain economic growth. 

At the same time, the Authority recognises that participation challenges are not driven solely by population growth. Across a number of rural and coastal communities, particularly within South Hams and other more isolated localities, transport constraints and limited accessibility to provision can create significant barriers to participation even where learner cohorts are comparatively smaller. 

Investment through the Rural and Costal Delivery element of the programme is therefore intended to support more flexible and locally responsive delivery approaches. This may include outreach provision, locally accessible learning infrastructure, transition provision, satellite delivery models and partnership-based provision delivered with schools, academies and community settings. 

The programme is therefore intended not simply as a capital estates programme, but as part of a wider strategic response to participation, inclusion and workforce development across Devon and Torbay. 

In addition to responding to demographic growth, the programme is intended to support: 

• improved participation in education and training; 
• reduction in NEET levels and disengagement; 
• improved accessibility to provision, particularly for those with additional needs or barriers to learning; 
• progression into employment, apprenticeships and higher-level skills; 
• and delivery of provision aligned to local economic priorities. 

Investment should therefore support provision linked to identified local and national skills priorities, including areas such as construction, health and care, digital, clean energy, marine and other strategically important sectors identified through local skills and economic evidence. 

The programme also supports the wider strategic ambitions set out through: 

• the Devon and Torbay Local Growth Plan; 
• the Skills and Future Workforce Plan; 
• Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs); 
• the Devon Brighter Futures Strategy; 
• and wider employment and inclusion priorities across Devon and Torbay. 

The starting point for all investment decisions will be clear, evidenced demand and demonstrable strategic need. Applications must clearly show: 

• the forecast learner demand being addressed; 
• the additional learner capacity to be created; 
• how the proposal improves accessibility or participation; 
• and how delivery aligns to local strategic priorities and labour market need. 

Strategic alignment alone will not compensate for weak evidence of demand or limited impact on learner participation and capacity. Projects that do not demonstrate a clear and credible contribution to the priorities of the programme are unlikely to be supported. 

Funding available

A total of £9,326,925 capital funding is available through the Devon and Torbay Post-16 Capital Investment Programme for the period 2026 to 2030.

Funding will be commissioned through a competitive process aligned to the strategic priorities and commissioning approach set out within this prospectus.

In line with the Authority’s evidence-led approach, the programme has been structured around four broad strategic investment areas reflecting forecast learner growth, participation pressures and accessibility challenges across Devon and Torbay. This is set out in Table 2.

The Exeter and Wider Travel-to-Learn Area allocation is intended to support strategic FE place creation and specialist capacity expansion linked to significant demographic growth and existing recruitment pressure within the wider Exeter growth corridor.

The North Devon and Torridge allocation reflects the combination of forecast learner growth, rural accessibility pressures, constrained alternative provision and concentrations of participation and NEET challenge within the wider Barnstaple travel-to-learn area.

The Torbay allocation reflects the area’s distinct participation pressures, concentrations of vulnerable learners, coastal deprivation challenges and continued pressure on local FE capacity.

The Rural and Costal Delivery element of the programme is intended to support more flexible and locally responsive approaches to improving accessibility and participation within dispersed rural and coastal communities, particularly where barriers are driven by geography, transport constraints and limited local accessibility to provision.

Funding through this strand may support:

• satellite and outreach provision; 
• partnership delivery models with schools and academies; 
• shared specialist facilities; 
• locally accessible transition and engagement provision; 
• and flexible local learning infrastructure. 

While allocations have been established to support a transparent commissioning approach, all funding remains subject to the submission of deliverable proposals capable of demonstrating: 

• clear strategic need; 
• evidence of learner demand; 
• contribution to participation and accessibility; 
• deliverability within programme timescales; 
• and value for money. 

DTCCA reserves the right to: 

• allocate funding across multiple projects and providers; 
• offer a lower level of funding than requested; 
• phase funding where appropriate; 
• reallocate funding between projects where proposals do not sufficiently meet programme requirements; 
• and choose not to allocate the full funding amount where suitable proposals are not received. 

Funding is available for expenditure up to 31 March 2030. All projects must therefore demonstrate a credible delivery timetable capable of bringing additional learner capacity into operation within the required programme period.

The Authority expects most of the additional learner capacity supported through this programme to become operational between 2027 and 2029, reflecting the timing of forecast demographic growth and participation pressures across Devon and Torbay.

Eligibility

The Devon and Torbay Post-16 Capital Investment Programme is intended to support the strategic expansion and improvement of post-16 education and training capacity across Devon and Torbay through a coordinated commissioning approach led by the area’s principal further education colleges.

The current funding and accountability arrangements for the programme require all applications to be led by an eligible further education college provider able to act as the accountable body for the proposed investment and associated delivery arrangements.

As a result, the following organisations are eligible to act as lead applicants through this programme:

• Exeter and North Devon Colleges Group; 
• South Devon College; 
• Cornwall College. 

The Authority expects applicants to adopt partnership approaches where these will demonstrably improve accessibility, participation or local delivery capacity. This is likely to be particularly relevant for proposals serving rural and coastal communities, although it is recognised that strategic place expansion projects within the principal further education growth centres may be appropriately delivered by the lead provider alone.

The Authority particularly encourages collaborative and partnership-based approaches within rural and coastal communities, where flexible delivery models may be required to address transport barriers, geographic isolation and limited local accessibility to provision.

While delivery may take place across multiple sites or through local partnership arrangements, all applications must be formally led, managed and accountable through one of the eligible FE college providers identified above.

All proposals must directly support the creation or improvement of post-16 education and training capacity for learners aged 16 to 19. Eligible activity may include expansion or reconfiguration of teaching accommodation, specialist facilities, outreach and satellite provision, locally accessible learning infrastructure, transition provision and associated teaching and learning environments.

Funding is intended to support capital investment only and must demonstrate a clear contribution to additional learner capacity, accessibility or participation. Revenue costs, general estate maintenance, activity unrelated to post-16 provision or projects which duplicate existing provision without evidence of demand will not be supported (See Appendix. A for ineligible costs).

Applicants must demonstrate that they possess the organisational, financial and project management capacity required to deliver the proposed investment, including the ability to secure any relevant statutory, regulatory or planning approvals within the required timeframe.

Applications must clearly identify the lead institution, any delivery partners involved, the location of investment and how the proposed project contributes to the strategic priorities of the programme.

DTCCA reserves the right to request further information at any stage of the process in order to confirm eligibility, partnership arrangements or project deliverability.

Investment Priorities

While all projects must demonstrate a clear contribution to post-16 learner capacity, DTCCA will prioritise investment in those areas where evidence demonstrates the greatest combination of demographic growth, participation pressure, accessibility challenge and strategic economic need.

Priority will be given to proposals that respond to evidenced demand for additional learner places, particularly where this demand is already visible through sustained recruitment growth, high application volumes or constrained provision. Projects should clearly demonstrate how additional capacity will be delivered at the point at which demand is expected to peak.

In line with the commissioning approach set out within this prospectus, investment is expected to be prioritised within the wider Exeter travel-to-learn area, North Devon and Torridge, and Torbay, where forecast learner growth, existing recruitment pressure and participation challenges are most acute. Alongside this, the programme will also prioritise investment that improves accessibility and participation within rural and coastal communities where barriers are driven primarily by transport, geography and limited local access to provision.

DTCCA expects applicants to consider collaborative and partnership-based delivery models where these would improve accessibility, participation or local delivery capacity. Such approaches are likely to be particularly appropriate within rural and coastal communities, where outreach provision and shared local delivery may better address barriers to participation than traditional campus-based expansion.

Alongside this focus on capacity and accessibility, DTCCA will prioritise projects that strengthen the relevance and responsiveness of provision. This includes investment that supports delivery in sectors where there is clear and evidenced demand from employers and the local economy, including construction, health and care, clean energy, digital, marine and other strategically important sectors identified through local skills and economic evidence.

DTCCA also expects investment to contribute to improved participation and progression outcomes. Projects should demonstrate how additional capacity will support young people to engage in education and training and progress into employment, apprenticeships or further study, particularly learners at greater risk of disengagement or participation barriers. Successful applicants will be required to monitor and report against agreed outputs and outcomes, including the additional learner capacity created, utilisation of that capacity, participation and progression outcomes, and any wider measures specified within the funding agreement.

In all cases, priority will be given to projects that make effective and sustainable use of existing estate and infrastructure. Proposals that maximise existing facilities through refurbishment, reconfiguration or shared delivery approaches are likely to represent stronger value than proposals requiring significant expansion, unless a clear strategic case for additional space has been demonstrated.

Applications must clearly demonstrate:

• the learner demand being addressed; 
• the additional learner capacity or accessibility being created; 
• the contribution to participation and progression outcomes; 
• alignment to local strategic priorities; 
• where appropriate, partnership arrangements that improve accessibility, participation or local delivery; 
• how the impact of the investment will be measured and monitored; and 
• how delivery will be achieved within programme timescales. 

Projects which do not demonstrate a strong and credible link between investment, learner demand, participation impact and strategic need are unlikely to be supported. 

Assessment Criteria

All applications will be assessed through a structured and competitive process. Demand is expected to exceed the available funding available through the programme and not all applications will be successful.

Projects will be assessed against three core criteria:

• Strategic Need and Participation Impact – 60% 
• Deliverability – 20% 
• Value for Money – 20% 

The weighting of these criteria reflects the primary purpose of the programme, which is to increase post-16 learner capacity, accessibility and participation where this is most needed across Devon and Torbay.

Strategic Need and Participation Impact carries the greatest weighting and will be the primary determinant of funding decisions. Applications will therefore be expected to demonstrate:

• clear evidence of learner demand and capacity pressure; 
• the scale and timing of additional learner need; 
• contribution to accessibility and participation outcomes; 
• alignment to local strategic and economic priorities; 
• and clear impact for learners and communities. 

Applications that do not demonstrate a strong and credible case for strategic need, additional learner capacity or participation impact are unlikely to be supported regardless of performance in other areas. 

A. Strategic Need and Participation Impact (60%) 

Applicants must demonstrate a clear and evidenced need for additional post-16 learner places. This should form the core of the application.

Evidence is expected to include forecast growth in the 16 to 19 population within the relevant travel-to-learn area, provider-level evidence of demand and recruitment pressure, evidence of constrained or unmet provision, and consideration of how the proposal responds to existing accessibility, participation or travel-to-learn challenges within the local area.

Applications must clearly quantify:

• the number of additional learner places or accessibility improvements to be delivered; 
• the timing of when these are required; 
• and how the proposal aligns with forecast demand, participation pressures or accessibility need over time. 

Higher scoring applications will present robust and data-driven evidence of demand and strategic need, demonstrate a clear gap between existing capacity and learner need, show a strong understanding of local provision and travel-to-learn patterns, and clearly evidence how the proposal improves learner participation, accessibility or progression outcomes. Particular consideration will be given to proposals which demonstrate impact within high-need communities or for learners at greater risk of disengagement. 

Applications that rely on assumptions, lack supporting evidence or fail to clearly demonstrate demand will score poorly. Applications that do not provide a credible case for need are unlikely to progress. 

B. Deliverability (20%) 

Applicants must demonstrate that their proposals are realistic, well-developed and capable of being delivered within the required timeframe.

Evidence should include:

• A clearly defined project scope and description 
• Evidence that the project has been developed to an appropriate level of design (equivalent to RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Stage 2 or similar) 
• A detailed and realistic delivery timetable, including key milestones 
• Identification of risks and appropriate mitigation strategies 
• Clear governance, leadership and project management arrangements 
• An impact assessment including environmental benefits and equality.

Projects must demonstrate that additional learner capacity can be delivered in time to respond to forecast learner growth and participation pressures. The Authority expects the majority of projects to become operational between 2027 and 2030, reflecting the timing of forecast demand across Devon and Torbay.

Higher scoring applications will:

• Demonstrate a high level of project readiness 
• Provide a credible and well-sequenced delivery plan 
• Show clear understanding of planning, procurement and delivery risks 
• Provide assurance that the organisation has the capacity to deliver the project. 

Applications that are underdeveloped, overly optimistic or lack a clear route to delivery will score poorly. 

C. Value for Money (20%) 

Applications must demonstrate that the proposed investment represents an efficient and effective use of public funding.

Assessment will consider:

• The overall cost of the project and level of cost certainty 
• The cost per additional learner place created 
• The extent to which the proposal maximises the use of existing estate 
• The sustainability and longer-term use of the investment 
• The level of match funding or co-investment, where applicable, though this is not essential. 
• The contribution to accessibility and participation outcomes. 

Higher scoring applications will: 

• Demonstrate proportionate and well-evidenced costs 
• Deliver a strong cost-to-capacity ratio 
• Maximise the use of existing facilities before proposing expansion 
• Provide confidence that the investment will remain useful beyond peak demand. 

Applications with excessive costs, weak justification or poor efficiency will score poorly. DTCCA reserves the right to reject applications that do not represent good value for money. 

D. Overall Assessment and Moderation 

Applications will be scored against each of the criteria above and then considered in the round.

Final funding decisions will take into account the total score achieved by each application, alignment with the programme’s strategic priorities, the distribution of learner demand and participation pressures across Devon and Torbay, and the need to maintain an appropriate balance between strategic place creation and rural and coastal accessibility investment across the overall programme.

DTCCA reserves the right to:

• Prioritise higher scoring applications 
• Fund projects in full or in part 
• Take a portfolio approach to ensure that investment addresses the most significant capacity pressures across the area.

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to submit a complete and structured application that clearly sets out the need for investment, the proposed solution and the outcomes to be delivered. Applications must be sufficiently detailed to enable robust assessment against the published criteria.

All applications must include the following information:

• Applicants must provide a clear description of the proposed project, including the location, scope of works and the nature of the investment. This should explain what is being delivered and how it will increase post-16 capacity, accessibility or participation. 
• Applications must include a detailed assessment of demand for post-16 learner places and/or accessibility need. This should be supported by evidence, including forecast growth in the 16 to 19 population, provider-level data on applications and enrolments, and any evidence of unmet demand such as oversubscription or constrained provision. Applicants must clearly state the number of additional learner places that will be created and when these places will become available.
• Applicants must demonstrate how the proposed project aligns with local demand and provision. This should include consideration of the wider provider landscape and an explanation of why additional capacity is required at the proposed location. 
• Applicants should demonstrate how the proposed project will support equitable access to post-16 education and training, particularly for learners who face barriers to participation or progression. This includes, but is not limited to, young people with a health-related barrier to progression, care-experienced learners, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and learners in rural or coastal communities with limited access to provision. Applications should set out how the investment will improve accessibility, remove barriers and contribute to improved outcomes for these groups, including through location, design, delivery model or targeted support. 
• A clear delivery plan must be provided, setting out key stages of the project from approval through to completion. This should include milestones, timelines and confirmation that the project can be delivered within the funding period. Applications should identify key risks to delivery and set out how these will be managed. 
• A detailed cost plan must be included, setting out the total cost of the project and how funding will be used. Costs should be clearly broken down and supported by appropriate assumptions. Where relevant, applicants should identify any additional sources of funding or co-investment. 
• Applicants must also demonstrate that they have the organisational capacity to deliver the project. This should include information on governance arrangements, project management capability and any relevant experience of delivering capital projects. 
• Applications should include confirmation that all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements have been considered. This includes planning permission, land ownership, lease arrangements or any other approvals required to deliver the project. 

All applications must clearly demonstrate how the proposed investment will result in a measurable improvement in post-16 learner capacity, accessibility or participation. Applications that do not provide sufficient information, or that fail to clearly link investment to additional learner places, may not be assessed.

DTCCA may request additional information or clarification from applicants during the assessment process. Applicants should ensure that all information provided is accurate and complete at the point of submission.

Bidding Process and Timetable

The Post-16 Capital Investment Programme will be delivered through a single competitive bidding round. All applicants will be required to submit proposals in line with the process and timetable set out below.

The programme will launch on 17th September 2026, with the publication of this guidance document and accompanying application materials. This will mark the formal start of the application period.

Applicants will then have a defined period to prepare and submit their proposals. The application deadline will fall on 18th October 2026. Applications must be submitted in full by the stated deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Following the deadline, applications will be subject to an initial compliance check to ensure that they meet the basic eligibility and submission requirements. Compliant applications will then proceed to detailed assessment against the published criteria.

The assessment and moderation process will take place between October and November 2026. This will include scoring by an officer panel, followed by moderation to ensure consistency and to consider applications in the round.

Funding decisions are expected to be confirmed in November 2026. Applicants will be notified of the outcome in writing. Successful projects will then move into a mobilisation phase from spring 2027, including the finalisation of funding agreements and confirmation of delivery arrangements.

Applicants should note that this is a competitive process and that not all applications will be successful. DTCCA reserves the right to amend the timetable if required, including extending deadlines or adjusting decision timelines, although this will be avoided wherever possible.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to begin developing proposals in advance of the formal launch, particularly where projects require planning, technical design or partner engagement.

Assessment and Decision Making Process

All applications will be assessed through a structured and proportionate process designed to ensure that funding is allocated to the projects that best meet the strategic priorities and commissioning requirements of the programme.

Following the application deadline, all submissions will undergo an initial compliance check to confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements and that all required information has been provided. Applications that do not meet these requirements may not be taken forward for further assessment.

Eligible applications will be assessed by an officer panel drawn from across DTCCA and relevant partner organisations. The panel will evaluate each application against the published assessment criteria, applying the agreed weightings for Strategic Need and Participation Impact, Deliverability and Value for Money.

Each application will be scored individually before being subject to a moderation process. Moderation will ensure consistency of scoring across applications and enable proposals to be considered in the round, taking into account the relative strength of each bid and the overall demand for funding.

In addition to the scoring process, DTCCA will consider the overall distribution of investment across Devon and Torbay. This will include consideration of the distribution of learner demand, participation pressures, accessibility challenges and the need to maintain an appropriate balance between strategic place creation and rural and coastal accessibility investment.

Final funding recommendations will be developed based on:

• The total score achieved by each application 
• Alignment with the priorities of the programme 
• The scale and timing of identified learner demand, accessibility pressures or participation need 
• The availability of funding within the overall programme.

Funding decisions will be approved through DTCCA’s governance arrangements. Applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application. As part of this, DTCCA reserves the right to:

• Fund projects in full or in part 
• Offer a different level of funding than requested 
• Prioritise certain projects where there is a clear and pressing need 
• Decide not to fund applications where they do not sufficiently meet the requirements of the programme. 

Due to the competitive nature of the process, feedback to unsuccessful applicants may be limited. There is no formal appeals process; however, DTCCA may, at its discretion, provide high-level feedback to support future applications.

Applicants should ensure that their submissions are complete, accurate and clearly aligned to the requirements of the fund at the point of submission.

Funding Condition and Compliance

All funding awarded through the Post-16 Capital Investment Programme will be subject to a set of conditions relating to its use, management and reporting. These conditions are intended to ensure that public funding is used appropriately and that the programme delivers its intended outcomes.

Funding must be used for capital expenditure only and must directly support the creation of additional post-16 learner capacity or improved accessibility to provision. Expenditure must be clearly linked to the delivery of teaching and learning space or facilities required to bring additional learner places into use.

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a formal grant agreement with DTCCA. This agreement will set out the terms and conditions of funding, including:

• The approved scope of the project 
• The total funding allocation and any agreed phasing 
• The number of additional learner places to be delivered or agreed accessibility and participation outcomes 
• Key milestones and delivery timelines 
• Payment arrangements and conditions. 

Funding will be released in line with agreed milestones. Applicants must demonstrate appropriate progress and expenditure before funding is drawn down.

Recipients will be responsible for ensuring that all expenditure:

• Is eligible and directly related to the approved project 
• Represents value for money 
• Is supported by appropriate financial records and audit trails.

Recipients must maintain accurate and complete records of all expenditure and make these available for inspection if required. Appropriate internal controls and governance arrangements must be in place to manage the funding.

DTCCA is required to monitor the use of funding and ensure that it is being applied in line with the priorities of the programme. As part of this, recipients will be required to provide regular updates on project progress, expenditure and delivery of agreed outputs.

Where there are significant changes to a project, including scope, cost or delivery timeline, recipients must notify DTCCA as soon as possible. Any changes will need to be agreed before implementation.

Funding may be withheld, reduced or recovered where:

• It is not used for the intended purpose 
• Project delivery falls significantly behind agreed timelines 
• Outputs, including agreed learner capacity, accessibility or participation outcomes 
• There is a failure to comply with the conditions of funding. 

DTCCA will reserve the right to take appropriate action in such circumstances, including the recovery of funding where necessary. By accepting funding, applicants will be confirming their commitment to deliver the project as set out in their application and to comply with all associated conditions.

Recipients must ensure that all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements are met in delivering the project. This includes, but is not limited to, planning consent, procurement regulations and any other approvals required.

Monitoring, Outputs and Reporting

DTCCA will monitor all funded projects to ensure that investment is delivered as agreed and achieves the intended increase in post-16 capacity, accessibility and participation.

The primary measures of success for the programme will include the delivery of additional post-16 learner capacity, improved accessibility to provision and strengthened participation outcomes. Successful applicants will be required to define this clearly at the outset and report on delivery throughout the life of the project.

Recipients will be required to provide regular updates on project progress, including:

• Delivery against agreed milestones 
• Capital expenditure and funding drawdown 
• The number of additional learner places delivered 
• Any emerging risks, issues or changes to scope or timetable 
• Accessibility outputs; 
• Participation outcomes. 

Projects must also confirm the location and nature of the investment, particularly where delivery spans multiple sites.

Formal reporting requirements, including frequency and format, will be set out in the funding agreement. In addition, recipients will be required to complete an annual return, summarising:

• Total funding received and spent 
• Progress against the approved project 
• Additional learner capacity delivered 
• Any match funding or additional investment secured. 

DTCCA may request further information where necessary to support monitoring, assurance and evaluation activity. This may include evidence to demonstrate how the project has contributed to meeting local capacity needs, improving access to provision, including evidence of how the project has improved access, participation and progression outcomes over time.

Recipients are responsible for ensuring that all information provided is accurate, complete and supported by appropriate evidence. Reported information may be used for programme monitoring, external reporting and future policy development.

DTCCA will review performance across the programme to ensure that investment is addressing identified demand pressures and delivering the expected outcomes. Where projects are not progressing as agreed, or where reporting requirements are not met, further action may be taken in line with the conditions of funding.

Further Information and Support

DTCCA will provide further information and support to applicants throughout the bidding process to ensure that proposals are aligned with the requirements of the programme.

Applicants may submit clarification questions and wider queries during the application window. All enquiries relating to this funding round should be directed to dtcca.admin@devon.gov.uk.

To ensure a consistent and transparent process, DTCCA may share responses to queries with all applicants where they are of general relevance. Applicants are therefore encouraged to submit queries through this route rather than contacting officers directly.

Applicants are encouraged to engage early with relevant partners in order to ensure proposals reflect local demand, accessibility challenges, existing provision and opportunities for collaborative delivery.

Further guidance, including application templates and supporting materials, will be made available alongside the launch of the bidding round.

Appendix A

The following items of miscellaneous expenditure (not exhaustive) should not be included: 

• works being funded through other grant funding streams;  
• works that are not directly linked to the provision of facilities for 16-19 year old learners (Post-16 Capacity Fund (P16CF) projects only); 
• works that are not directly linked to the provision of facilities for 16-19 and/or adult learners (Construction Skills Capacity Fund (CSCF) projects only);  
• costs incurred before the launch of this funding round on 10 February 2026; v) revenue funded items e.g., software, laptops and other devices for staff or learners, annual software licences; vi) rent service charges; 
• internal staffing costs; viii) recoverable VAT costs incurred; 
• supply of loose furniture, unless a CSCF project where supply of workbenches is eligible. All other loose furniture remains ineligible; and  
• supply of loose equipment, unless a CSCF project where technical equipment, IT devices and software that are directly related to and required for delivering the construction curriculum – and can be capitalised- are eligible. Please note that general IT devices and software required by all learners and teachers are not eligible expenditure. If an application is successful, we will monitor spend on the project during delivery including regular reviews to ensure ineligible costs are not being included in claims for grant funding or as part of the match funding contribution. 

To note: The Post-16 Capacity Fund (P16CF) and Construction Skills Capacity Fund (CSCF) are Department for Education (DfE) funding streams delivered through the DTCCA Post-16 Capital Investment Programme.