The Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology is open for business.
A revolution in technical skills - After years of planning and a two-year build, the state-of-the-art, multi-million-pound Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology (SaWIoT) is now open for business.
The region finally received the huge boost to degree-level education and skills training it has been waiting for, with the official opening event for the new Swindon and Wiltshire Institute of Technology (IoT) at New College Swindon which took place on Thursday 3 November.
Part of New College Swindon’s North Star campus has been developed to give apprenticeship, Level 4,5 & 6 diploma, and degree-level students the chance to work in cutting-edge environments including, an IT suite, film and TV studio, and engineering labs, giving them the best start to their future careers.
Director Neil Brayshaw said: “This is what Swindon has been waiting for, it’s a great opportunity. People have been calling for the town to have a university for years - and this is it. There’s a good heritage of training and development on this site. The institute is the next step in that tradition, and it’s in a prime location to become a hub for what comes next in Swindon. From day one, we can create the perfect employee to save them starting from scratch when they get a job. Other IoTs are impressed by what we have, this is setting a precedent.”
Carole Kitching, Principal and CEO of New College Swindon said: “This marks the biggest ever investment in skills training in the region and one that others have termed ‘a revolution in skills training”. We know that Swindon is a higher education cold-spot, with no university and a lower percentage of young people progressing into higher education than nationally, and we also know that our employers need a pipeline of highly-skilled young people and adults to drive economic prosperity. The IoT is the solution to meeting workforce skills needs now and into the future and to help forge the development of a high-skill high-paid future knowledge economy.”
The Institute of Technology has been working closely with many local employers including: Swindon Borough Council, the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Project, Oxford Brookes University, Cirencester College, the University of Gloucestershire, Excalibur Communications, Nationwide, Create Studios, Catalent, and Render to ensure the right courses are on offer to address current skills gaps and in areas where future employment lies.
Employer led courses are not just a means for filling vacancies. They are proven method for investing in the development of individuals who can make an impact now and in the long term. Most importantly, it not only allows employers to address their immediate skills gaps, but to also gain an engaged member of staff who feels valued, working for an employer that is investing and supporting their career. It also provides an opportunity for employees to get a jump on the competition by gaining skills and qualifications whilst building up experience on the job and earning a wage.
DIGITAL - CREATIVE - TECHNICAL – HEALTH
www.sawiot.ac.uk
