Guidance

Higher technical qualifications: provider toolkit

Steps providers should take to prepare to offer approved higher technical qualifications (HTQs).

From:
Department for Education
Published
13 October 2021
Last updated
2721 JulyJune 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England

This guidance explains what you’ll need to do if you want to start offering higher technical qualifications (HTQs).

An overview of HTQs is available.

Develop your HTQ offer

You can currently offer HTQs in a variety of digital occupations. From September 2023, you’ll also be able to offer HTQs in:

  • construction
  • health and science

TheThere are different ways you can offer HTQs. include:This includes:

  • developing a level 4 or 5 qualification as an approved HTQ
  • partnering with an organisation on the Office for Students register to offer itstheir approved HTQ
  • joining a franchise to offer another provider’s approved HTQ

Email HTQ.approvals@education.gov.uk for more information on the approval process for developing an HTQ.

Choose your qualification

If you’re not developing your own qualifications, check the list of approved HTQs. This list includes the awarding body for each approved qualification.

Once you’ve chosen the qualification you’d like to offer, contact the awarding body. ItThey can provide the specification for that qualification. This will:

  • explain the skills the qualification will develop
  • suggest entry requirements
  • list the units for qualification
  • explain the assessment requirements

Read how Bolton Collegecollege has developed itstheir curriculum.

Prepare your staff and facilities

TheThere are different ways you can prepare your staff and facilities to support HTQs. include:This includes:

  • allocating a dedicated space for teaching HTQs
  • buyingpurchasing or upgrading software and systems
  • investing in continuing professional development for staff
  • buyingpurchasing specialist equipment to enhance classroom learning

Funding

There

  • confirming arestudent fundingfinance options available- toif support your staff and students with providing and studying for HTQs. These include the following.

    Funding for students

    If you’re you’re:

    • on the Office for Students register or in a partnership with a registered organisation,organisation your students may be eligible for higherHE education student finance.
    • not Thison includes:

    • support grants

    Funding

    IfYou you’recan notalso onprepare theby register,checking yourfor studentsfunding opportunities.

    You may be eligibleable to apply for anthe advancedsecond learnerround loan.

    Fundingof forthe higher technical education (HTE): higher technical education skills injection fund (which closes on Friday 21 July 2023). The fund is for HTQs only and for providers

    preparing to deliver across all 15 occupational routes up to academic year 2025 to 2026.

    If you’re on the Office for Students register, you may also be able to get strategic priorities grant funding.

    Promote your HTQ offer to students

    You can advertise your HTQ courses on the website of:on:

    The Skills for Life communication campaign directs people to these sites.

    To advertise your course, include ‘(HTQ)’ at the end of the qualification title when listing your approved qualification. You can also update existing listings that you already have.

    The UCAS website also has an approved HTQ status checkbox you can tick. This will:

    • allow people to filter for it
    • display the HTQ branding on the course page

    You’ll also need to advertise your offer through your own channels.

    Using the quality mark

    Remember to use the quality mark to promote approved HTQs. andDetails of how to followuse the quality mark are set out in the quality mark guidelines.

    Email team.highertechnicaleducation@education.gov.uk to request the logo.

    Communications resources

    You can also request a variety of HTQ-branded branded resources. You can use these to promote your offer on your website, at events or on social media. TheseThis include:includes:

    • a leaflet
    • a presentation for learners
    • social media examples
    • a video of a student talking about why they chose to do an HTQ

    Email team.highertechnicaleducation@education.gov.uk to request:

    • HTQ communication materials
    • examples of how other providers are getting ready to offer HTQs

    Further support

    Email team.highertechnicaleducation@education.gov.uk if you have any questions about delivering HTQs or need further support and guidance. We may be able to help directly or connect you with other providers.

    • Published 13 October 2021
    Last updated 2721 JulyJune 2023 + show all updates

    1. Applications for the second round of the higher technical education skills injection fund have now closed. We have updated the ‘funding’ and ‘prepare your staff and facilities’ sections to reflect this.

    2. Updated funding and communications resources information.

    3. Updated the guidance to remove out of date content.

    4. We have added the section 'Advertising your HTQs'.

    5. We have added information on the launch of the Higher Technical Education Skills Injection Fund.

    6. We've added a section titled 'Provider showcase' containing information for any provider that wishes to showcase materials.

    7. We have added additional communication resources to the toolkit.

    8. Revised list of successful applicants for the 2021 to 2022 Provider Growth Fund added to the page.

    9. First published.

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