TechLocal grant funding to boost digital skills and jobs

TechLocal grant funding programme

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has announced £27 million in new funding to kickstart the government's TechLocal scheme, part of the wider £187 million TechFirst initiative.

The scheme will help employers fill or create up to 1,000 tech jobs in communities across the UK, and fund new professional practice courses, graduate traineeships, and work experience opportunities in frontier technologies, including:

• artificial intelligence (AI)
• cyber security
• quantum computing
• engineering biology
• semiconductors
• advanced connectivity technologies

The scheme will run two separate grant funding competitions.

TechLocal: Connecting local talent to local tech jobs

This competition will fund collaborative projects that help people move into entry‑level tech roles, with a focus on supporting women, addressing local skills gaps, and enabling small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to recruit and retain talent. Grants will range from £100,000 to £225,000.

To find out more, visit the jobs strand competition page or join the online briefing event at 11:30am on Tuesday 10 February 2026.

TechLocal: AI professional degree and traineeship accelerator 

This competition will support the creation of new Level 6/7 AI degrees, graduate traineeships, and industry‑embedded experience, that provide industry ready AI skills. Grants will range from £100,000 to £300,000.

To find out more, visit the AI strand competition page or join the online briefing event at 2pm on Tuesday 10 February 2026.

Who can apply

Employers, training providers, local partnerships and education bodies can apply through the Innovation Funding Service.

Applications for both strands of TechLocal open on 4 February and close on 18 March 2026.

Find full eligibility and assessment criteria in the application guidance.

First published 3 February 2026