College unveils details of town ‘Digital Skills and Innovation Centre’
OUTLINE plans to open a ‘Digital Skills and Innovation Centre’ in the heart of Nuneaton town centre have been revealed.
North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire (NWSLC) has unveiled detail of the proposals for the new centre which it says will help to regenerate skills and careers opportunities in the town.
It is one of the 11 projects set to be paid for with the £23.5m from the government’s Towns Fund.
The college says it wants to open a new state of the art centre that will give access to digital skills training, provide an incubation space for business start-ups as well as a training restaurant that will be open to the public.
The facility is expected to serve over 2,600 students over the next ten years, supporting 290 business start-ups and delivering value to the economy worth £13.4m.
Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said, “We’re delighted to be working with My Town Nuneaton to contribute to the regeneration of the town and boost opportunities for people to gain new skills that pave the way for exciting careers.
“We know that the UK is facing digital skills shortages and that careers in big data, AI, and superfast computing are set to grow on the back of swift developments in 5G connectivity. The Digital Skills and Innovation Centre is being designed specifically to address skills development in this area, as well providing space for entrepreneurs to thrive and grow.
“In addition, we have seen the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the hospitality sector. By relocating our training restaurant to the town centre, we will provide a boost for vocational skills that will help the sector’s recovery in Nuneaton.
“The Catering and Hospitality team at NWSLC has a significant track record of success in national and international competitions, including winning two Gold medals at Worldskills UK LIVE, first place in the UK Young Restaurant Team of the Year in 2018, and Best College in the Welsh International Culinary Championships on five occasions. The impact of this team’s well-developed ethos has led students to employment with prestigious establishments including at the Ritz Hotel London and Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat’saisons, and to owning and running their own successful establishments.”
She added that the centre will help young people who have been hit by the impact of the coronavirus.
“We are committed to addressing the impact of COVID-19 on our local community which has disproportionately affected young people in Nuneaton and look forward to building on our plans to deliver work-based training and apprenticeships in the heart of the town centre, increasing footfall, reducing unemployment and supporting the development of thriving new enterprises,” the college boss added.
Now the college is working with the My Town Nuneaton Board, which includes Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council on the next steps.
More detail is set to emerge in the coming months.
Town Fund projects Bringing Nuneaton college’s restaurant and training into the town centre is one of eleven projects set to be funded by the government windfall.
Among the others are plans for a £3.5m glass extension to Nuneaton’s museum and plans for the surrounding Riversley Park area.
As previously reported, Nuneaton was one of just 100 towns across the country selected to bid for funding from the government’s Towns Fund initiative.
During Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s budget announcement it was revealed that the Nuneaton Town Investment Plan (TIP) has been approved and £23.2m would be provided.
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We are committed to addressing the impact of Covid-19 on our local community which has disproportionately affected young people...
Marion Plant