Education Infrastructure

The Agency is working closely with the LSC, Local Authorities, HEFCE and other regional partners to develop the education infrastructure, and hence the skills of the region’s future workforce

The Regional Economic Strategy (RES) identifies the need to develop educational attainment, vocational and workplace learning opportunities, progression routes between school/FE/HE and high quality careers information, focused on the skills of 14-19 year olds.

It is also recognised that the role of HE in contributing to the transformation of the economy needs to be developed and two examples where this is happening are the University for Cumbria, and ensuring appropriate provision of HE opportunities in East Lancashire as part of a wider lifelong learning investment.

The RES also highlights the need to increase the number of people studying higher level skills in science, engineering and technology and acknowledges the need to support providers of post 16 learning to deliver higher quality provision and a “kite-mark” to recognise providers responsive to employer needs.

Key projects:

University for Cumbria

Working closely with its partners and stakeholders, the new University for Cumbria is committed to providing an outstanding student experience and to bringing the transformational and opportunity-giving qualities of higher education to all who can benefit.  Key to this is to provide students with the skills and knowledge, in a supportive learning environment, which will equip them for success and fulfilment throughout their lives.

The new university will comprise a number of campuses, university centres and access points.  The five existing campuses, including two locations in Carlisle and one each in Ambleside, Penrith and Lancaster, will be supplemented with three university centres adjacent to existing colleges in Barrow, Kendal and Whitehaven / Workington.  This structure is designed to reach out to disadvantaged communities and widen participation in higher education, as well as to ensure that both large and small employers in Cumbria are provided with the courses and support which they need.

Burnley College

The Regional Economic Strategy (RES) identifies the need to promote enterprise and to improve higher education and skills provision in East Lancashire.  Given this aspiration, partners recognise the opportunity to build on the Burnley College/University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) plans for a new Further/Higher Education campus by creating a wider and more comprehensive vision for education and enterprise in Burnley.  The planned new campus will provide:

• A new further education college of around 20,000 square metres
• A new higher education facility for UCLAN of around 5,000 square metres.

The Nuclear Academy (Construction commences in 2007)

The Agency, along the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), West Lakes Renaissance and British Nuclear Group are working on the £19m Nuclear Academy facility in Cumbria. The facility will be a world class centre of excellence for nuclear skills development aimed at addressing the challenges facing employers in terms of nuclear decommissioning, energy production, potential new build and defence, and is a major development for Cumbria and the region.

This iconic new development will be utilised by the nuclear industry for both vocational training and business support and form part of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, a Government initiative.

The Academy will provide work related skills training in a unique simulated work environment specifically focused to meet the needs of employers. The provision will be for both large companies and Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and, where needed, the Academy will also be used for business support initiatives, complementing other support in the region.

Hopefully The Nuclear Academy will become the northwest flagship of the National Skills Academy Nuclear (NSAN), which is in its business planning phase to gain government approval. The National Skills Academies are an initiative by the Government to enable hands on involvement by employers in the design and delivery of skills. The NSAN is being established to create, develop and promote world class skills and career pathways to support a sustainable future for the UK Nuclear Industry.