The Government has recently approved a multi-million-pound bid for a new technical education institute in Greater Manchester.
Led by the University of Salford with Wigan and Leigh College as the lead FE partner, the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology brings together a number of colleges and employers in the city region and will specialise in construction, engineering, health and digital skills offering a range of courses, including new Higher Technical Qualifications and apprenticeships, designed to fast track learners into jobs in growth sectors for Greater Manchester
Institutes of Technology (IoTs) are the government’s flagship programme designed to spearhead the delivery of higher technical education in STEM subjects. The first wave of 12 IoTs are being established across the country. The Salford-led Greater Manchester bid was submitted as part of wave 2 of the funding competition. The government has made £120 million available to proposals from areas of the country not covered by an IoT.
Anna Dawe, Principal at Wigan & Leigh College, said:
“This is excellent news and a huge boost to the promotion and delivery of higher level technical skills across Greater Manchester. For our borough it will deliver training and employment opportunities that are for the careers of the future as well as responding to current skills and workforce needs.
“We are very much looking forward to working with our partners and putting our plans into action.”
James Grundy MP for Leigh said:
“I am incredibly proud that Leigh will be home to a campus of the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology, both as a former pupil of Leigh College and as the local MP.
“I would like to congratulate Anna Dawe and her team for helping put together such a strong bid for the funding to make this project a reality, and I was delighted to be asked to support the bid during the application process.
“This is great news for the future of our town, and will bring incredible new opportunities for the young people in our area.”