A FUNDING bid of over £5million aims to give technical skills a boost in the region.
Stratford College, along with Coventry College, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, will receive a slice of the funding after a successful group bid.
The bid is part a pilot scheme to reshape technical skills training in the region.
The funding will be used to create a Coventry and Warwickshire Strategy for Technical Education and see new training facilities and courses created, as well as staff recruited and trained across the colleges to deliver on the strategy.
Funding will be used to improve three areas including electrification and battery technology, creative, culture and digital, and construction, transport and logistics.
Coventry and Warwickshire is one of 18 pilot groups for the Skills Accelerator programme – a key part of the Government’s plans to reshape the technical skills system – ensuring education meets the skills demands of the region.
Stratford College acting principal Lindsey Stewart said: “After the tough time Stratford has had during the last 18 months, the college is delighted to able to offer an exciting new range of courses in both construction and creative areas. The project will fund state-of-the-art facilities which also encompass the green agenda. The colleges working in partnership will enhance the skills offer while reducing costly duplication.”
WCG College Group CEO Angela Joyce said: “For Coventry and Warwickshire to be named a pilot region for the Skills Accelerator programme is fantastic and is evidence that our region is at the forefront of the national drive to deliver effective technical education.
“For WCG, the funding will allow us to expand our delivery in vital sectors including electrification and battery technology, and construction, transport and logistics – areas that will be drivers for the bright future of our region.
“A collaborative approach is important to help bridge the skills gap and this funding will be used to create an effective region-wide strategy.”
