An MP’s visit to his local Institute of Technology (IoT) has highlighted IoTs’ leading role in supporting learners to thrive and meeting local skills needs, through the use of industry-leading technology and partnerships between education and businesses.

Blackpool South MP Chris Webb says the Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology will be a driving force in his goal for the town to become a major digital hub.  

Chris got hands-on with industry-leading technology at Blackpool and the Fylde College, a partner college in the IoT, experiencing a driving simulator, virtual reality Igloo, cyber security suites and data lab.  

The Lancashire and Cumbria IoT is a group of eight colleges, including Blackpool and the Fylde College, set up to collaborate with employers to draw up courses that meet industry skills needs. Government funding of £8.7m was awarded to the IoT to spend on industry-leading technology to enable learners to train on the equipment they would be using in the real world. 

Chris said: “I could never have dreamed growing up that tech like this would be on my doorstep. I want Blackpool to be at the cutting edge to try to attract digital businesses so that people can stay here and have meaningful, rewarding careers. 

I see the Lancashire and Cumbria IoT as being an important part of that, teaching the skills industries will need and giving people vital opportunities using this amazing technology.

Chris webb, MP for blackpool south

On a tour of the college’s University Centre, Chris tried out a driving simulator and watched a student demonstrate an omni-directional treadmill wearing a virtual reality headset, both of which can be used to generate real-world data that is then analysed by learners in the IoT’s data lab. He also experienced the college’s VR Igloo, an immersive space that can replicate real-world environments, from an F1 garage to a manufacturing factory, hospital and construction environments and much more.  

Marc Potter, assistant principal of digital and creative innovation, said: “It’s a wonderful piece of equipment and we find students come up with innovative ways of using it that even we haven’t thought of. We’ve had external organisations in to use it too, from a hotelier using it to plan new room layouts to the police using it to simulate riots for officer training.  

“We talk to industry and they want interactive spaces where their learners can collaborate on real-world problems – this is what the IoT is doing.” 

Nineteen-year-old Harry Smith, who spoke to Chris during the visit, completed the IoT’s T Level digital support services before moving onto an apprenticeship in digital and technology solutions (network engineering).

He said: “What 19-year-old can say they have access to hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of equipment on their doorstep? It’s fun and informative, and it’s supported by employers so whatever I choose to do afterwards I’ll know I’ll have the skills I need.” 

Institutes of Technology (IoTs) are a national network of 21 partnerships stretching from Truro to Tyneside, collectively comprising 87 further education colleges, 36 universities, and 101 employer partners. Our mission is to equip individuals with the advanced technical skills needed to drive innovation and meet the evolving needs of employers.

If you’d like to contact any of the members of the Executive, get in touch here.