A Weston College-led proposal to create the West of England Institute of Technology (IoT) has been shortlisted by the Department for Education (DfE).  If approved, the proposal will see up to £14m of government funding awarded to establish the IoT, designed to support the DfE ambition to create a network of Institutes of Technology. The West of England IoT aims to directly enhance the delivery of employer-led science, technology, engineering and maths provision to meet current and future workforce demands. 

The West of England IoT is a Weston College-led consortium of education providers and key employers across the South West.  It includes the University of the West of England, Bath College, Gloucestershire College, and Yeovil College as well as a network of key local employers, including GKN Aerospace, Airbus, GE Aviation, Renishaw, Weston Area Health Trust and St Monica Trust.

This IoT will bring together industry, education and research to design and deliver flexible higher-level technical learning to equip young people and those already in work with the skills to fully exploit new technologies and digital innovation to increase productivity and position the region as the ‘creators and makers’ of the future. 

Capitalising on respective partners’ areas of academic and industry expertise, the IoT will provide training solutions to support the continued growth of regional excellence, where industry and academia work together to develop a sustainable pipeline of skilled labour to meet current, emerging and future demand.  The IoT seeks to widen participation in targeted science, technology, engineering and maths higher education to ensure the region has the skills to drive and deliver resilient, inclusive and sustainable economic growth now and for the future.

It aims to support regional industry as it prepares to respond to regional, national and global skills needs, and prepare the current and future workforce to embrace and maximise the impact of digital innovation on key industry sectors that have regional and national impact on economic growth.

Dr Paul Phillips, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, said: “We are thrilled to have got through to this stage and recognise that this project has the potential to significantly influence skills development on both a regional and national basis.”

He went on to say that the next stage would now involve detailed meetings with everyone involved in the process matched by rigorous timelines and financial analysis.

Professor Steve West, Vice-Chancellor, President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of the West of England commented: “UWE, Bristol is delighted to be supporting a very strong bid for an Institute of Technology that engages further education partners and employers from across our region.

"Clearly the strength of an innovative and collaborative bid focusing on developing the skills we need for the future has captured the attention of the Government. We look forward to moving to the next stage of our application where we would hope to secure the backing of ministers.”

The innovative training course launched last year but already boasts numerous success stories. Students have completed apprenticeships at high profile restaurants across Bristol and the South West, as well as being nominated for prestigious awards.

One of those success stories is Elliott, who aims to become a Michelin-starred chef and believes the apprenticeship has set him on the path to achieving it.

He said: “I decided to join Weston College as food and cooking has always been my passion.

“My godmother is a really good cook and she has been an inspiration to me. When I was younger we used to cook together, so I knew I wanted to be a chef from a very young age.”

“When I saw the apprenticeship advertised with weekly masterclasses taught by local Michelin-starred chefs, it really grabbed my attention,” Elliott said.

“The masterclasses, which teach a diverse range of techniques, have exceeded my expectations. A great example is one we had from a local fishmonger - an area I lacked experience in.

“We were shown how to gut and fillet a salmon and several mackerel. It didn’t stop there as the masterclasses go into real depth. We were also shown how to trim and pin bone, as well being taught about different types of cuts and cooking techniques.”

Thanks to Weston College, Elliott has gained an apprenticeship at Puro restaurant in Clevedon.

“The whole process of getting an apprenticeship was very easy,” he said. “I have received great support from Weston College. My college assessors actually come to me as well which saves me travelling to Weston. I really enjoy my apprenticeship and the team give me expert training.

“My long-term ambition is to gain Rosettes (a cooking accreditation award) and also to become a Michelin starred chef in the future. College has also helped me to get the ball rolling on this. Through the programme I have been taught key skills in a range of areas which include butchery, fish mongering and desserts which I have been able to perfect during my apprenticeship.”

Elliott points out that the apprenticeship doesn’t only teach students to cook – it also helps them in many other aspects of their career.

He said: “I have received a large amount of support from the College. Not only are my college tutors at every practical session, but they offer great support on the theory too which has really developed my knowledge, they have also supported me with my functional skills (English, maths and ICT). This would have been a real struggle for me without their help.”

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Digital technology is advancing rapidly – at a rate that threatens to leave behind millions of people in the UK.

According to a report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, around 12% of the population will lack basic digital literacy within a decade.

And this doesn’t only apply to the ‘older’ generation. Research also suggests that even the most digitally confident young people are being taken by surprise at the evolving skill-set required in an increasingly digital world.

In short, more needs to be done to equip the next generation with the digital knowledge and know-how they need to succeed.

At Weston College, providing learners with the most up-to-date digital skills and resources is among our highest priorities.

That’s why it was such a huge achievement and honour that we recently became one of 14 providers in the UK to be awarded ‘Microsoft Showcase College’ status.

As a Showcase College, we’ll benefit from billions of pounds of research and knowledge, as well as Microsoft’s support in the personalising student education. This includes the use of one-to-one devices, Office 365 Education, Office Mix, OneNote, Skype, Minecraft and more.

Microsoft will share ideas to enhance staff development, student employability and innovation, and provide the College with opportunities to host Microsoft-branded educational events.

Every PC user in the world has Microsoft tools, and every job that young people apply for will require them to use Word, PowerPoint and Excel. That’s why embedding these systems – as well as digital skills and capabilities – into our teaching is so vital.

We also get the opportunity to share ideas with other Showcase Colleges around the world – all striving to improve teaching and learning, raise the engagement and attainment of students, and to boost regional economies.

This places us within an exclusive global community, recognised for educational transformation, creativity and collaboration, and a willingness to promote a growth mind-set among staff and students.

It’s a deeply held belief of mine that everyone should have an equal opportunity to learn, regardless of background or ability. And, by providing students with the latest technology, we’re able to reduce barriers to learning – for example, dyslexia, hearing and impairments, physical disabilities, and financial and geographical barriers.

The accreditation also enables the College to run a range of courses to equip students and staff with the latest Microsoft certification and provide access to online resources that target skill and knowledge gaps. These courses are:

• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification
• Microsoft Office Specialist Expert Certification
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Certification
• Microsoft Certified Educator – specifically for teachers.

As a College, we’re constantly striving to push the boundaries in terms of what our students can achieve. This puts the onus on us to provide the very best resources and technology, and gaining Microsoft accreditation is another example of how we’re achieving this.

As Anthony Salcito, Vice-President of Worldwide Education at Microsoft, said: “Microsoft Showcase Schools and Colleges are shining examples of those applying purpose-driven innovation in a variety of ways to build connection, motivate students and to create community in and out of college.

“They are truly transforming learning and providing more personalised education to students, empowering them to achieve more.”

Dr Paul Phillips CBE