Exeter College is proud to be part of a consortium of Further Education and training providers to deliver skills to the South West. Working in partnership with the Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and the Somerset Chamber of Commerce the consortium has been created to act as a catalyst to align educational provision with business needs in the region. 

Consortium members, Exeter College, City College Plymouth, Bridgewater & Taunton College, Petroc, South Devon College, Strode College, Yeovil College, Focus Training and SWATPRO (DSTPN) are delighted to have each been awarded a share of £2.5m from the Department for Education for two projects; “The Heart of the South West Collaboration for Success”, and “Green Skills for the Future”.   

Members of the consortium will collaborate to deliver regionally significant projects which focus on delivering skills and training in green construction, automotive, digital, engineering and advanced propulsion.   

As part of this vision Exeter College has ambitious plans to develop the first Retrofit Skills Centre in Devon, working with Taylor Lewis and designed by APG, the centre will be an essential addition to the College’s Construction Centre at Sowton Industrial Estate. 

To enable collaborative success, the College has set-up the new Green Skills Advisory Panel (GCAP). GCAP is a member-led committee of local building services, housing and construction businesses supported by local authorities, charities and training providers across the South West. The clear purpose is to upskill current workforces and provide green careers, where individuals are educated about new and emerging technologies and techniques to reduce the impact on the environment. 

John Laramy CBE, Principal and CEO at Exeter College said: 

“Through collaboration and working with industry leading experts and partners, we are well placed to drive the ambitions of the local authorities and the community. Our ambition is that by providing bespoke qualifications, niche skills can be developed to meet the burgeoning demand.  

“This funding is an integral part of making this happen and we are excited to work with consortium members to deliver these much-needed skills to our region to enable employers to flourish. 

“Exeter College is committed to leading by example on environmental sustainability and this is initiative will help in our plan to be carbon neutral by 2030.”