WARRINGTON & Vale Royal College’s Winsford campus has secured £2m funding as part of the £120m Institute of Technology (IoT) competition.
In collaboration with Cheshire College South & West, Macclesfield College, Reaseheath College, University of Chester, Priestley College and employer partners, the region will benefit from over £13m investment.
The IoT partnership, involving a range of leading names from the world of business, such as Warrington and Halton NHS Trust, Encirc, Alderley Park Ltd and Case IH, will offer world-class training and education and provide the skills that employers need to keep the region at the forefront of industry developments and addressing local skills gaps.
Institutes of Technology are unique collaborations between employers, colleges and universities that specialise in offering high-quality Higher Technical Education and training in subjects such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, digital and cyber security and aerospace, which will support businesses in gaining skilled workforces.
Across the region all industries have existing employees that will require ongoing re-skilling and up-skilling because of the rising impact of automation and digitisation. The Institute will deliver world-class higher technical skills in: Health and Life Sciences Computing, Engineering, Agri-Tech, Construction and The Built Environment, Science and Maths.
Those studying at the Institute will benefit from state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, providing them an ideal environment for their learning.
Nichola Newton, Principal and CEO at Warrington & Vale Royal College commented: “We are delighted to have secured such a significant investment for our Winsford campus to support the development of health and biomedical sciences, the result of a truly collaborative effort with much support from our college and employer partners and MP’s Andy Carter, Edward Timpson and Charlotte Nichols. Our Winsford campus is developing a distinct identity around health, science and engineering, key sectors across Cheshire and Warrington. We are confident that this investment will enable us to support our learners into sectoral vacancies for jobs that are currently hard to fill and that this will, in turn, play a part in the post-pandemic economic recovery and future development of our region. I am delighted that Warrington & Vale Royal college is able to play a vital role in creating vibrant opportunities for the Vale Royal community.”
The Institute in Cheshire and Warrington, was one of nine Institutes of Technology announced by the Department for Education last month (December 2021), bringing the total to 21 across the country and delivering on the Government’s manifesto commitment.
Clare Hayward MBE, Chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP said: “This investment enables us to support our colleges to provide skills for the future in an inspiring environment. This also demonstrates confidence in our region, enables us to deliver the vision and provides opportunities across the region. We are thrilled we have been selected and this is evidence of the excellent collaboration between the colleges, businesses and the LEP. This is a great endorsement for Cheshire and Warrington and something that we can really build on.”
If you would like to know more about studying at Warrington & Vale Royal College visit wvr.ac.uk
