[L]akes College has been awarded £200,000 of a “Catalyst Fund”, which aims to close the skills gap and support the Industrial Strategy through curriculum development. The funding for Lakes College will specifically focus upon Nuclear vocational pathways and degrees.
Over 30 universities and colleges in England have been awarded a share of £6.1 million by HEFCE to develop new and enhanced higher education courses. Working with employers, the projects will help provide the skills needed in the future economy and support the aims of the Industrial Strategy.
Universities and colleges will co-develop and co-design courses in conjunction with employers, both national and local. Across the country, this funding is supporting a range of projects in many different sectors which align with the Industrial Strategy’s ‘Grand Challenges’ – from advanced engineering to data analytics, and from artificial intelligence to bioscience.
HEFCE’s investment will help to enhance graduate outcomes and employability, and upskill the workforce – providing the key skills that industry and employers will need and contributing to UK productivity in the longer term.
HEFCE Chief Executive, Professor Madeleine Atkins, said: “We were delighted with the quality of proposals received for this funding call and particularly the impressive levels of engagement between higher education and industry. This investment represents important support for the government’s Industrial Strategy. The funding will provide new courses and vital skill developments in key industrial sectors across the country, from which students, the workforce and employers all stand to benefit”.
Chris Nattress (Lakes College principal) stated “I am delighted with the recent funding we have been awarded to develop programmes, which will enable us to continue to develop our skills offer, particularly within the Nuclear sector, ensuring we meet both local and national needs. This is great news for the college and the area given the official opening of the National College for Nuclear on the 7th of February.”
