Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Institute of Technology Officially Launched to Power Local Economy

The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology (IoT), which Keele is the higher education partner of, marked its official launch this week with a major event attended by the Minister of State for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith and key industry and education leaders. 

Led by Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG), the £25 million facility is dedicated to delivering high-quality, higher-level technical skills in priority sectors, including advanced engineering and manufacturing, digital technologies, modern methods of construction and health sciences. 

Since welcoming its first cohort of learners in September, the IoT has brought together a powerful regional educational partnership, including NSCG, Keele University, Axia Solutions, Burton and South Derbyshire College, South Staffordshire College and Stoke on Trent College, supported by anchor partners from industry who influence strategy and curriculum including Dell, Hitachi Energy, Indurent, Moog and Siemens. 

Addressing the assembled stakeholders and dignitaries, the Minister of State for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, emphasised the facility's importance to the region in the context of the national skills landscape. The event also featured talks from leading figures including Leigh Ingham MP (MP for Stafford, Eccleshall and the Villages) and Brian Holliday (Managing Director for Siemens Digital Industries and Skills England Board Member). Their discussions underscored the critical role of the IoT in aligning education directly with local employment needs across Staffordshire and the wider West Midlands. 

Guests were then given a guided tour to showcase the state-of-the-art facilities designed for immersive, practical learning, including: a VR/AR space, a mock hospital ward, testing laboratories, robotics and automation equipment, as well as an advanced manufacturing learning factory. Learners at the IoT also benefit from conference rooms, a lecture theatre, a bistro and a range of interactive teaching spaces. 

Before closing the event, Georgina Barnard, Vice Principal - IoT, led a panel discussion joined by Chris Plant (Interim Chief Executive – Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce), David Thomas (Siemens) and Steve Beaumont (Drayton Beaumont Services), alongside a number of higher-level IoT learners who’ve benefited from the facility since it opened. Discussions centred around the benefits of partnership working, meeting local skills needs and the importance of supporting local business growth. 

Professor Mark Ormerod OBE, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Keele University, said “The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology is an important and exciting development for the region providing important skills-based education for local learners.  

“Keele University is proud to be the University partner in the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology, working collaboratively with NSCG and partner FE Colleges and industry, including providing a range of level 6 top up degrees that IoT learners can progress onto.” 

Minister of State for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith said: "I am delighted to attend the official launch event of The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology. This is not just a building - it's a gateway to future careers, a catalyst for regional growth, and a symbol of what can be achieved when education and industry work hand in hand. 

"Through our Plan for Change, we are determined to equip young people with the technical skills that modern industries demand and help to meet the Prime Minister's target for two-thirds of young people to be in higher level learning by age 25. 

"Our Post 16 Education and Skills White Paper set out plans to drive transformative reforms to the skills system by establishing new Technical Excellence Colleges alongside the Institutes of Technology, streamlining the confusing post-16 qualifications by introducing V Levels and ending the treadmill of repeated English and maths resits." 

Georgina Barnard, Vice Principal – IoT added: “The launch of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology marks a defining moment for our region. By bringing together truly fantastic facilities, employers and leading educational providers, we are creating a powerhouse for technical skills that will drive innovation, productivity and opportunity across Staffordshire and beyond. Our mission is clear: to equip learners with the advanced skills that local businesses need to thrive, while inspiring the next generation to see technical education as a pathway to success.”