College group awarded £120m pot for Institute of Technology

Haywards Heath College part of group to benefit from higher level skills training

A bid led by Chichester College Group (CCG) - which includes Haywards Heath College - to create an Institute of Technology (IoT) has been approved by the Secretary of State for Education.

The project – led by CCG alongside the University of Sussex, University of Brighton and North East Surrey College of Technology (Nescot) – has the support of many of the region’s businesses including NatWest Group, Gatwick Airport Limited, Roche Diagnostics, Ricardo, Wates Group, Southern Water, Irwin Mitchell, Pearson, the Gatwick Diamond Initiative and Coast to Capital LEP.

Following a competitive procurement process, the winners (including six colleges and three universities) will split a £120 million capital funding pot to enhance higher level skills training across the UK.

In the Coastto Capital region, the investment will create new cutting-edge facilities for higher level technical training with a focus on digital and sustainable technologies across a number of sectors including engineering and construction.

The new Institute of Technology (IoT) is set to include a new state-of-theart centre at Crawley College, housing engineering and digital ‘Learning Factories’ with specialist satellites for delivery at locations across the region, including an Information and Communications Technology specialism at Nescot.

Julie Kapsalis, Managing Director at Chichester College Group and chair of the region’s bid consortium, said: “This is a huge development for our region and is testament to the power of partnership working between our colleges, universities and businesses. Our IoT will champion social mobility and widen participation in higher education; our courses will be designed and delivered in partnership with employers to meet their needs.

“The opportunity to establish an IoT in the region has been a unique catalyst for collaboration, bring together our institutions around a shared vision and objectives.”

Andrew Green, Chief Executive at Chichester College Group, added: “I am delighted that our proposal has been accepted and we are able to move forward with an Institute of Technology for our region.

“This is a vital opportunity for communities across Sussex, Surrey and Brighton & Hove, who will have access to an innovative and leading skills offer.

“Working in collaboration with the Universities of Sussex and Brighton and Nescot, we’ll be sharing the best of higher education research and teaching with vocationally driven further education colleges. I cannot thank all of the project partners enough for their support, as well as those who have worked so hard to develop this exciting project.”

The project is now at preaward stage and work will continue over the coming months to finalise plans and timings with the DfE. The IoT Hub at Crawley, which will be a new build, is planned to be complete by March 2024 but delivery is planned to commence in advance of this.

Frances Rutter, Chief Executive and Principal at Nescot College, said: “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with partners to develop the future of STEM education through the new Institute of Technology.

“Nescot’s expertise and values fit perfectly with the IoT ethos and it’s very exciting to be involved in developing this valuable regional project.”

This is a vital opportunity for communities across Sussex, Surrey and Brighton & Hove

ANDREW GREEN Chief Executive at Chichester College Group