Read: LPC 23: Driving innovation in the manufacturing economy - a Derby case study
Britain has a long-standing manufacturing economy which has driven world-class innovation and design. As technological change continues at pace, it is more important than ever that we have the skills that will enable us to take advantage of that, while at the same time delivering opportunity to individuals and communities across the country.
That challenge was the focus of an event at today’s Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. Skills for Britain: How higher-level skills can drive innovation and a manufacturing economy was hosted by the University of Derby, Car Charged and The Purpose Coalition. Speakers included Rt Hon Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition, Lionel Mathia, Managing Director of Car Charged, Professor Keith McLey, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Derby, Charlotte Nichols, MP for Warrington and Catherine Atkinson, Labour PPC for Derby North.
Derby was one of twelve Opportunity Areas launched in 2016, transitioning to Priority Areas in 2021. The University is one of the top performers in the UK for recruiting people from higher education participation cold spots. It has actively addressed below-average educational attainment within the region’s school system, with extensive outreach that embeds industry partners into the curriculum at an early stage so that children have the chance to hear about the working world from real professionals.
It sees its partnership working as fundamental to levelling up. As well as working with regional employers for apprenticeship delivery, it is working with Further Education and industry partners to develop new initiatives to allow access to skills development.
The discussion heard about the successful partnership between the University of Derby and Car Charged UK Ltd, under the auspices of the University’s Invest to Grow programme. Set up in 2015, the initiative supports private sector businesses across the East Midlands to innovate, grow and create jobs, providing loans and grants to support specific schemes. Car Charged obtained funding to develop its wireless EV charging expertise, and particularly its concept of Wireless Electrical Vehicle Charging (WEVC) stations, allowing it to increase its turnover significantly and create additional jobs. It also developed closer links with the University as a result which has led to the provision of an internship for a student and involvement in other research and development programmes.
