Within months of being completed the Exeter College South West Institute of Technology (IoT), Digital and Data Centre has won an industry award. The Constructing Excellence South West awarded the team behind the project with the Client of the Year Award. 

This award recognises the collaboration between the project staff at Exeter College and the architects, contractors and project managers. It acknowledges that they worked together to overcome challenges such as the impact of Brexit and the pandemic.  

Steven Strang, Director of Estates and Information Technology at Exeter College, who managed the project, said;  

“It’s an amazing achievement for the team and great recognition for the project. I’m delighted that we won this award, and to get shortlisted for two more (Project of the Year and Value) is just fantastic.  

We had a number of milestones to hit, including the T Level refurbishment of the Hele Building (adjoining the new Digital and Data Centre). Amazingly this was open and operational to accept the September 2020 intake of students despite the Covid pandemic. 

We are immensely proud to have created this space, which includes state of the art digital learning laboratories, IT suites and interactive seminar spaces. This gives learners access to cutting edge equipment to help prepare them to move directly into industry or further study.” 

This South West Institute of Technology, Digital and Data Centre is part of the College’s 15 Year Estates Masterplan to support the local economy and ensure learners have the required skills for the future. 

Institutes of Technology (IoTs) are a key component of the government’s plans to reform technical education, putting both employer and student needs at the heart of the system. They will provide employers with a skilled workforce and students with a clear route to technical employment. Joel who is studying for a T Level in Digital Production, Design and Development said:  

“One of the reasons I chose Exeter College was because I knew I would be studying in the Digital and Data Centre. It’s a fantastic space to learn and I am using the latest technology which is a huge plus.” 

Read more about the Institute of Technology.