Yorkshire and Humber’s successful Institute of Technology Bid

A consortium of colleges in the region, in which York College is the lead, is delighted to have received the green light from the Department of Education to develop the Yorkshire and Humber Institute of Technology (IoT).  This is one of only twelve IOTs nationally, which are designed to increase higher level technical skills for employers.

The IoT will bring investment of circa £10million of capital funding into the region for partners to invest in industry standard equipment and provide higher level technical training.  This massive training boost will enhance employment opportunities and ensure highly qualified employees for the regions’ employers.

York College will lead six other Further Education providers; Askham Bryan College, Bishop Burton College, Craven College, East Riding College, Scarborough TEC and Selby College; and will work alongside two Higher Education providers; University of Hull and York St John University, to deliver the IoT in Yorkshire and the Humber.

The bid has received significant levels of employer support. Digital and Engineering businesses ViSR, CATCH, Skipton Building Society, GB Recruitment and ENGIE Fabricom recognised the need for investment in education to address their wider skills shortages and have been signed up as employer partners to be involved in designing the appropriate curriculum, supported by research from the universities. These employers will be part of the governance of the IoT to ensure continued collaboration and long term benefits for the region.

Alison Birkinshaw, Principal of York College says: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Further and Higher Education providers to develop this prestigious Institute of Technology.  This is a once in a generation, transformational opportunity which will focus on developing higher level technical skills across the York, North Yorkshire, East Riding and North Humberside area.  The work we do will be supported by significant capital investment and will improve the level of skills, increase productivity, and make a real difference to the success of the region.  We are hugely grateful to our employer partners for their support in putting together this bid and are really looking forward to making our plans a reality.”