Skills Capital Infrastructure
To support the need from employers to provide increased numbers of higher-level technical provision, OxLEP has invested c£23m in skills capital infrastructure.
This is to support a range of provision aligned to key sectors and priorities including Apprenticeships and T Levels.
Most of these courses are now delivering additional specialist skills and training outcomes across the county and offer the most up-to-date facilities and equipment. This will help students move successfully into employment or on to further technical education.
Our investments include:
Centre for Applied Super Conductivity
A new centre of innovation to train people with necessary skills in superconductivity which can be transferable to other relevant industries. The Centre will coordinate the interaction between key industry players, Oxford University, cryogenics companies, and end users on the Harwell campus and at the Culham Centre for Fusion Research Campus.
Oxford Centre for Innovation and Technology
The development of a specialist technology training centre in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, to address skills shortages across engineering, electrical, design, and emerging technologies. This high-specification facility supports training in a wide range of technological industries, including construction, engineering, IT, computing and motor vehicle.
It enhances students' experience, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to go far in a range of exciting and fast-paced technological industries. The reputation of the campus as a centre for STEM is growing, which has resulted in the successful awarding of IoT status in partnership with Milton Keynes College and Cranfield University. The project has attracted capital to refurbish an additional building on the site allowing the growth of STEM provision into Level 4+ and Higher Apprenticeship provision in digital.
Technology Livestock Centre
A major new skills centre which provides a 'highly-technical' environment, supporting courses and research relating to livestock husbandry – reflecting the requirements of many of Oxfordshire’s rural businesses. The centre has been built to combine theory teaching spaces and a livestock area, capable of supporting the latest agricultural technology.
Advanced Skills Centre
A high-tech higher education hub dedicated to STEM training and provides a quiet space for all higher education students to work. The centre will address skills shortages by supplying skilled technicians at Harwell and elsewhere in Oxfordshire; and deploying the unique expertise and facilities available at and around Harwell as a learning resource for the rest of the UK, Europe and the world.
Construction Skills Academy
Abingdon & Witney College's new academy will give young people and adults opportunities to develop the skills needed to secure employment in Oxfordshire. Oxfordshire's innovation in low-carbon technologies is world-leading and the curriculum will reflect this with plumbing for renewable technology, electrical installation, carpentry and joinery.
Hospitality Training Centre
This project focuses on increasing the volume of skilled employees to respond to long standing skills and labour shortages across the hospitality sector. The curriculum is being co-deigned with the support of industry experts.
Care Skills Training Centre
The Care Skills Training Centres at the City of Oxford College gives a unique insight into careers in the health and social care sector. The centre provides acute clinical and residential care facilities for simulated teaching and learning, offers a range of facilities and equipment (including state-of-the-art hospital wards, fully equipped home care rooms, emergency care centres, and fully immersive, 3-Dimensional, virtual reality, learning spaces).
Advanced Digital and Science Centre
This project at The Henley College refurbished five key areas to promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) progression. This is set to have a major impact across several key sectors, including digital skills, engineering, and applied life sciences.
Green Construction Skills Centre
The Green Construction Skills Centre will meet the considerable shortage of green construction skills across Oxfordshire by offering a variety of training programmes including school engagement activities, full time courses for 16 to18 year olds (including T Levels), higher level programmes, apprenticeships, adult skills training programmes and short upskilling courses targeted at those already working in construction.
Courses will be designed with employers, and sector bodies such as the CITB, those with specialisms and interest in green issues and will focus on areas such as low or zero carbon technologies for both new build and retrofit construction projects.
Find out more on these investments via our capital programmes section
Pictured below is the Advanced Digital and Science Centre at The Henley College.
