£12m secured for new Institute of Technology

A collaboration of educators and employers from South Yorkshire has successfully secured over £12m to establish a new South Yorkshire Institute of Technology (IoT).

The Department for Education announced the news as part of the second wave of IoT bids, with the institutes designed to be employer led and offer higher level technical education to help close skills gaps in key STEM areas.

The South Yorkshire IoT brings together Further Education institutions, Higher Education institutions and local employers to provide pathways from STEM based T-Levels to Higher Technical Qualifications, apprenticeships, and degrees. It will also offer flexible courses for adults looking to reskill or upskill.

The successful group behind South Yorkshire IoT includes DN Colleges Group, Sheffield Hallam University, Barnsley College, and the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre as core education partners, with RNN Group, the Sheffield College and the National Centre for Advanced Transport & Infrastructure (NCATI) also associate partners.

The institute’s core employer partners include Yorkshire Business Masters winner AESSEAL, as well as Engie UK, HLM Architects and WANdisco. They will all have a place on the board of the new IoT with one of the businesses being selected to be chair.

The South Yorkshire IoT aims to work closely with employers to provide specialist provision for over 1,500 learners, aiming to meet the demand for construction, digital, engineering/manufacturing, and healthcare science higher level technical skills within the region.

Mick Lochran, CEO of DN Colleges Group, which has led on the formation of the IoT, said: “I am so proud that South Yorkshire has been awarded an IoT as it has the potential to change the whole dynamic of our region. The working partnerships, between employers and education providers, has been amazing and provides a sound foundation to deliver a successful IoT.”

Provision will be designed to be accessible to people across the region and target underrepresented groups. Investment will see IoT sites established across the region, including:

• DN Colleges Group will be delivering provision from within the existing Doncaster College site
• Barnsley College will reconfigure and refurbish its existing Church Street building to create a dedicated IoT centre in the centre of Barnsley
• Sheffield Hallam University will create a dedicated IoT space within the existing campus in Sheffield City Centre
• The University of Sheffield’s AMRC Training Centre is planning to refurbish and upgrade a dedicated space at its Rotherham site with industry standard digital engineering laboratories

Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said the new IoTs will “boost access to more high-quality and flexible education and training – giving people the chance to learn at a pace that is right for them, while ensuring we have the skilled workforce needed to boost our economy”.

The South Yorkshire IoT is supported by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, all regional local authorities and local Chambers of Commerce.

Professor Sir Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, said: “This is fabulous news. It shows what collaboration between universities and further education providers can do for the region.

“This is a step-change investment in technical education and Sheffield Hallam is delighted to have played our part in securing it. The IoT will drive economic success, build talent and create opportunities.

“We are looking forward to using our expertise in work-based applied learning to make the South Yorkshire Institute of Technology an outstanding success.”

Yiannis Koursis, principal and chief executive officer of Barnsley College, said: “This is a big moment for our institutions and our wider region. We know that if the skills gaps aren’t met then our economy and communities will suffer and be left behind. Securing the IoT funding and backing gives our region and our students a boost in technical skills, and will ensure that we can expand our already impressive work with businesses across the area to ensure the skills-need of the future is being met.”