Post- 16 Capacity Fund EOI form

Section 1 - General information

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Name of applicant

Contact email address

Name of institution

Name of proposed project

Section 2 - location

Is the application for a project located within the following 7 constituent Local Authority areas: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall or Wolverhampton?

Yes No

If no, is the project designed to increase capacity for residents of whom 90% reside within the 7 constituent Local Authorities areas?

Section 3 - institution

Is the application for an institution of the following types:

FE college established as a further education corporation under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (FHEA 1992) Designated institution as per section 28 of FHEA 1992 Sixth Form College as defined by section 91(3) FHEA 1992 Academy (established as per Academies Act 2010) providing sixth form education ONLY, (referred to as 16-19 academies for the remainder of the guidance)

If yes, is this application for an Academy?

Yes No

If yes, have you received approval as per the significant change process ?

Yes No

Section 3 - match funding

Is the applicant able to secure match funding for the project?

Yes No

If yes, what percentage of match funding has been secured for the project?

Section 4 - number of projects

Is the application for a project designed to create capacity for at least 31 non-construction additional learners aged 16 – 19 years of age?

Yes No

If yes, what is the total number of additional learners that your project will facilitate?

31 - 50 51 - 100 100 +

Section 5 - grant threshold

Does the application meet the minimum grant value of £250,000 per project?

Yes No

Does the application meet the maximum grant value of £5,000,000 per project?

Yes No

If yes for both, what is the total grant value of the project?

£250,000 - £499,999 £500,000 - £999,000 £1,000,000 - £2,499,999 £2,500,000 - £2,999,999 £3,000,000 - £5,000,000

Section 6 - project timelines

Is this application for a project which will be fully complete by 31st August 2028?

Yes No

Section 7 - project purpose

Will the applicant be able to evidence that the application meets the following core objectives:

The application provides additional 16-19 capacity where it is needed, due to be a demographic increase in learners where there is not enough existing capacity to accommodate that increase The application provides additional capacity to support the development of skills needed for local and national growth and is reflective of learner demand as set out in the Skills White Paper Funding will be used in the most efficient and sustainable way possible, to ensure value for money in the investment of public funds, and to support the Education Estates Strategic Aims

Section 8 - approvals and governance

Does the applicant confirm they will obtain all necessary statutory approvals (planning, change of use, etc)

Yes

Does the applicant have capacity to deliver the project alongside any other capital projects they may be delivering?

Yes

Section 9 - eligible projects

Are you able to demonstrate that the proposed project is required as a direct result of a demographic increase in learner numbers in their travel to learn area and therefore a forecasted increase in learners' numbers from 2026?

Yes

Are you able to demonstrate that the proposed project is required to accommodate the additional learners from 2026 onwards?

Yes

Are you able to demonstrate that there are no alternative solutions to accommodate the additional learners including learners attending another local provider, or improving estate utilisation through timetabling or similar, to avoid creating surplus space?

Yes

Are you able to confirm that the application is for a project that will NOT result in a surplus of post -16 places in both the provider and local area?

Yes

Are you able to demonstrate that the proposed project has not either started, or planned to start before 1st September 2026?

Yes

Are you able to demonstrate that the funding is designated as capital expenditure, according to standard accounting principles?

Yes

Are you able to demonstrate that the revenue effects of capital are affordable as long as you hold the assets delivered under the proposed project?

Yes

Section 10 - non-teaching space

Is the application for space for ancillary, communal or administrative purposes?

Yes No

If yes, are you able to demonstrate that this non-teaching space is essential to deliver the teaching to the additional students?

Yes No

Section 11 - new build capital works

Is the application for a permanent new build capital project?

Yes No

If yes, are you able to demonstrate that any new build proposal will realise wider benefits in the longer term beyond the demographic increase in 16 - 19-year-olds, contributing to value for money?

Yes No

Section 12 - tenure agreements

Does the proposal involve acquiring a freehold or leasehold property or land?

Yes No

If yes, how will the applicant ensure the purchase represents open market value and secures strong protections?

Yes No

Section 13 - other tenure agreements

Are you proposing an alternative tenure arrangement (i.e. not freehold or a long lease of at least 25 years)?

Yes No

If yes, please provide justification as to why this represents the best value for money option.

If yes, can you confirm that the land or asset will be held in a way that secures its use for educational provision (e.g. held by charitable trustees)?

Yes No

If yes, have you considered and can you demonstrate the following: the duration and scope of the works, the total value of the works, confidence that the premises will remain in educational use, and that the level of grant requested represents value for money?

Yes No

Section 14 - commercial lease

Will the capital investment be made in an asset held on a freehold or long lease (minimum 25 years) at a nominal (peppercorn) rent?

Yes No

If no, please confirm if the arrangement is a commercial lease that meets value for money requirements

If yes, do you confirm that any ongoing rental payments and running costs will be met by your organisation and not funded through this grant?

Yes

Section 15

Please describe the proposal (in no more than 500 words)