TEC Partnership leads winning bid for share of £65m government flagship investment programme

The region is poised to benefit from a share of a new £65m government flagship investment programme. Twelve education providers across the Humber, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire are set to receive a multimillion-pound boost as part of the successful TEC Partnership-led bid to join the Skills Accelerator Programme.

The providers, which stretch from Scarborough to Beverley and through to Grimsby, have been granted the Strategic Development Fund (SDF) as part of the government’s pilot programme, which aims to respond to local priorities for skills and innovation.

This includes supporting the development of courses that will provide the skills and education needed for future industries, particularly the use of new fuel technology, green energy, robotics, artificial intelligence and the latest electric vehicle maintenance.

TEC Partnership, which comprises Grimsby Institute, Scarborough TEC, East Riding College and Modal Training, is one of just 12 organisations selected to lead the pilot across the country.

Also part of the collaboration are University of Hull, Bishop Burton, North Lindsey College (part of DN Colleges Group), Selby College, Franklin College, John Leggott College, Wilberforce Sixth Form College and Hull College.

Gill Alton OBE, Chief Executive of the TEC Partnership, said: “This is incredibly exciting news for the 12 providers involved in the bid, as well as the wider region. Working directly with our partners we will deliver a once-in-a-generation transformation programme.

“This programme brings together 12 visionary and committed providers to form the largest single collaborative skills initiative. It is a landmark trailblazer that will foster new approaches, joint events, shared resources and a deepening engagement with industry partners.”

Exciting plans for the Strategic Development Fund will support and build on the recently announced Humber Freeport, offshore wind industry and green energy industry.

There are proposals to create new Foundation Degrees, higher education units and short courses which will be designed in conjunction with employers, as well as hosting industry events. We will be undertaking joint staff development within the Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing and Engineering Port and Logistics sectors, SME outreach and STEM careers activities.

Dr Ian Kelly, Chief Executive of the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Chamber is delighted to hear that TEC Partnership and our FE colleagues have successfully won an SDF bid for the region. I know from other Chambers of Commerce across the UK how competitive this national initiative has been and given the essential skills needs we have to address in “levelling up the Humber” this is really good news.”

James Newman, Chair of Hull and East Yorkshire LEP, also commented: “We are delighted with the outcome of this bidding opportunity, being one of less than 18 successful bids on a national basis. We’d like to congratulate all Humber partners who worked together to ensure the bid reflected the real opportunities for the region – focusing on the green agenda which will create new jobs, further develop the supply chain and add strength to the existing green economy.”

Pat Doody, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP said: “We are delighted to hear today that our joint bid to lead one of the first Strategic Development Fund pilots with the Department of Education across the country has been successful. The programme of skills, including new training infrastructure and courses for higher technical training in our LEP area is welcomed and will enable us to develop skills for local people in clean growth, one of our four game-changing sectors in Greater Lincolnshire.

“I am particularly pleased that the north bank and the south bank of the Humber have come together in partnership to bid  and the skills development will be focused on more skills in Green Energy, Engineering and Ports and Logistics. This will be good for the area, good for businesses so they can have a strong supply of skilled labour and good for local people who be able train or retrain in these sectors.”