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Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology (IoT) is set to deliver the best in technical education to provide employers with skilled workforces to boost economic growth.
Seven colleges and three universities have partnered up to transform the region through a targeted approach aimed at fuelling prosperity.
The IoT, part of a national network, offers students industry-leading facilities, equipment and training in the skills the region most needs.
Employers will be encouraged to become official partners of the IOT, enabling them to directly influence course content to ensure businesses get the workers they need.
Institutes of Technology are partnerships of colleges, universities and employers backed by a £290m government investment to enable the development of industry-standard facilities and equipment.
In Lancashire and Cumbria, the partner colleges are: Blackburn College, Blackpool and the Fylde College, Burnley College, Lancaster and Morecambe College, Nelson and Colne College Group, Preston College and Runshaw College. They’re joined by Edge Hill University, Lancaster University and University of Central Lancashire.
The funding will see developments including a Health Informatics Laboratory, Engineering Laboratory, Sustainable Technologies Laboratory and a bespoke Digital Suite.
The IoT will offer outstanding skills-based training across multiple technical industries including construction, engineering, counselling and health and social care.
Learners, from school leavers to adults returning to education, will be able to study a curriculum that reflects current and future needs across technology sectors within industry-standard facilities.
The IoT will offer career pathways for learners, enabling them to secure employment with opportunities for progression.
It will also aim to increase social mobility by targeting under-represented groups and break down geographical barriers, as well as offering the personal skills learners need for the modern workplace.
For employers, the IoT will address current skills gaps and anticipate future needs based on industry insights, and enable new training provision to be implemented quickly.
It will create opportunities for existing employees to upskill while encouraging newcomers to the digital, engineering and manufacturing sectors.
This initiative is part of a national programme designed to create world-class educational institutions that will drive economic growth whilst providing students with the knowledge and skills needed for high-quality, technical jobs.
IoTs were first launched in 2019 and there are a small number already in place in various regions across the country.
To find out more about our offering, visit the pages for learners and employers.