Strode College in Street is part of a college group chosen for a major new government skills drive aimed at powering Britain's clean energy future.

UCS College Group, which includes Strode, has been named one of England's new Technical Excellence Colleges, with a specialism in clean energy.

The announcement was made as part of a £175 million package backing 19 colleges across the country in sectors ministers say will drive future growth. They include clean energy, defence, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies.

For Street, the local significance is clear. Strode is part of the UCS group now being put at the centre of a national push to train the next generation of workers for high-skilled green jobs.

Ministers say around 65,000 learners will benefit from the new wave of Technical Excellence Colleges. The government also says almost 600,000 extra workers will be needed by 2030 across the priority sectors.

UCS College Group was one of five colleges selected in the clean energy category. The funding is intended to support high-quality teaching, stronger courses and specialist equipment.

That means Strode is part of a wider Somerset college network now being recognised for its role in delivering technical education linked to one of the UK's biggest growth areas.

The colleges will begin delivery from April 2026. The government says they will act as hubs of excellence, working with other providers to raise standards more widely.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wanted every young person to see a clear route into well-paid work, while Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said the new colleges would help build the skilled workforce needed for the industries expected to shape Britain's future.

For Street, the message is simple. Strode College is part of a group now given a front-row role in training workers for the clean energy economy.

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