A fresh round of investment has been released through the Mayor’s Skills Innovation Fund, with £200,900 now available to independent training providers across the region. The new phase targets projects that strengthen provider capacity, modernise facilities, and align training with current employer demand.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “We’re giving our communities the tools they deserve to access the quality careers that our businesses need. With my Skills Innovation Fund we are already supporting more than 1,000 learners across three excellent programmes. Now in the second and final round we will work with independent providers to boost their capacity and help even more learners in the region.”
The second phase encourages providers to adopt advanced equipment and develop teaching models that use technologies such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence. It is open to vocational training organisations that operate outside the college sector, with applications closing on Friday 9 January 2026.
The first phase, announced earlier in 2025, funded three regional programmes involving further education colleges, Better Connect, the University of York, and York Creatives. Those initiatives are expected to support more than 1,000 learners and tutors.
