The guest speaker at the Chambers’ Council meeting on Wednesday of this week was Jason Lancaster, Director of Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Institute of Technology, Newcastle & Stafford Colleges Group – and that’s a long title!
There are only going to be 21 Institutes of Technology (IoTs) in the country, and they form a key part of the Government’s biggest shake up to technical education in a generation.
I suppose you could view IoTs as the new polytechnics – an institute to equip the people and employers of Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire with the higher-level technical skills we need now and, in the future, to enable our area to become a hotspot for innovation and success. Our IOT is due to open its doors in September 2024.
And although it is great that we have an IOT, it is needed because we lag behind the national position in the acquisition of higher-level skills qualifications and our industries are the ones which will need more of these technical skills in the future as we modernise, automate and digitise. To be successful, a focus on delivering these skills in priority sectors through full-time, part-time and apprenticeship programmes will be key.
It is well documented that this area scores poorly on attaining Level 3 qualifications (A Level or equivalent) and Level 4 qualifications (HNC) with Stoke-on-Trent being a sobering 11.6% and 14.6% below national average respectively.
IoTs will concentrate on four main areas namely digital, STEM, construction and health sciences. In each case teaching will be built around modern methods weaving in new digital skills and sustainability and drawing on the businesses who have, and will, sign up as partners. There are already big names including Keele University, Dell, Hitachi, MOOG (aerospace), Siemens, Axia Solutions and St Modwen Logistics.
Qualifications and apprenticeships will range from Level 3 (A level, T level, BTEC) right up to Level 7 MSC and MEng qualifications. And delivered primarily from a brand-new 4000 square metre IoT hub building in Stafford and with centres in the colleges in Stoke, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Swadlincote.
So, lots to look forward to and hopefully IoTs can deliver the relevant high level technical education we need to secure our economic future and see the impact it has on higher level skills attainment.
Also, it is essential that there is not a gender imbalance in any of the skills we promote. We need to do more to make careers in engineering, manufacturing and construction appealing to young women. Perhaps some of the language and culture around these sectors needs to change to appeal to girls, as well as boys, at an early age.
We had a very lively discussion around this after Jason’s presentation and it was interesting to hear from a Council from different backgrounds and experiences – from a leader of the voluntary sector working with families where parents are often not working, and English may not be the first language, to a leading accountant and high profile business consultant – all of the Council who are elected from the membership. We agreed that we cannot and must not as a responsible community give up on young people from difficult backgrounds who are just as much a part of our future as those fortunate to have support to achieve their aspirations.
We must also consider opportunities for neurodiverse people. As one large employer noted, neurodiverse employees were playing a key role in his organisation in jobs that demanded a high level of detail, particularly in IT and some aspects of engineering.
If you would like to find out more about Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Institute of Technology or find out how your business can get more involved, you can contact Jason Lancaster: jason.lancaster@nscg.ac.uk
If you want to talk to us about any business issues, including funding, you can call our switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
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