Bridgwater & Taunton College (BTC) has played a pivotal role in securing a significant investment for the Devon and Somerset region to address local shortfalls in skills demand, facilitated through the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF).
The Devon and Somerset Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), spearheaded by the regions Chambers of Commerce, conducted a thorough regional review, pinpointing key sector priority areas of energy, engineering, and digital skills as top priorities from employers. The LSIF allocation is a direct response to these identified needs.
As the lead applicant for Devon and Somerset BTC has obtained £1.9million of funding to be implemented through projects in Somerset in partnership with Strode College and Yeovil College.
The allocated funding will enable BTC to initiate four innovative projects across all three priority sector areas. These initiatives will serve as pivotal communication tools, fostering dialogue within the industry to assess existing skills, identify gaps, and anticipate future skill requirements that may not yet be evident.
BTC will implement these projects through innovative approaches to technology and industry engagement, two focus areas being Clean Propulsion and Digital for All.
Clean Propulsion will introduce alternative fuels into our current curriculum with a focus on Agriculture and sustainable transportation. This project intends to take guidance from leading experts and provide readily available access to this knowledge.
The Digital for All project focuses on embracing digital skills and technologies across all sectors, demonstrating the opportunity for digital in non-traditionally digital fields. An element of this project will see our learners with accessibility requirements and SEND demonstrating to employers how they can make their industries more inclusive through technology.
The essence of these projects lies in knowledge exchange and sparking meaningful discussions that pave the way for the development of future skills. They are not just about implementing solutions but about creating an environment where listening and learning from each other take precedence. The role of BTC in this context is to facilitate these vital conversations, enabling employers to share best practices and influence one another in a dynamic, ever-changing landscape.
Through this approach, BTC is committed to playing a more listening responsive role, prioritising the voices and insights of employers. Findings from these discussions will then be shared with the local community, to encourage collaborative working and prepare for the workforce demands of the future.
