TWO Warrington colleges are among those aiming to create world-class education and a workforce with the skills needed by employers.

Priestley College and Warrington and Vale Royal College are part of a collaboration, Cheshire and Warrington Institute of Technology (IoT), which has just been awarded £120m by the government.

The collaboration’s vision is to ensure young people entering the workforce have the skills needed by employers to keep the region at the forefront of industry.

Principal James Gresty said: “We fully support this investment and the Institute of Technology’s plans to develop the region’s dynamic workforce through the outstanding teaching and range of courses we offer.”

Warrington and Vale Royal College’s Winsford campus has been successful in securing £2m funding as part of the £120m Institute of Technology (IoT) competition.

Nichola Newton, principal and CEO at the college said: “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.”

Cheshire College is the lead organisation for Cheshire and Warrington’s Institute of Technology.

Other collaborators include Macclesfield, Reaseheath and Warrington and Vale Royal colleges as well as the University of Chester

The partnership, involving a range of leading names from the world of business such as Encirc, Warrington and Halton NHS Trust, Alderley Park Ltd and Case IH, will offer world-class training and education.

It will provide people with the most in-demand skills and address any gaps in the local workforce.

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 advanced manufacturing, digital and cyber security, aerospace and healthcare. 

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:  Computing, Engineering, Health and Life Sciences, 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 an ideal environment for learning.  

Dhesi, Principal and CEO at Cheshire College, said: “This is just one initiative that will enable the local economy to recover from the impact of the pandemic and get back on track to achieve ambitious development within the Cheshire and Warrington region.”