University Centre Leeds awarded £1.2m to invest in the future workforce

University Centre Leeds, a member of Luminate Education Group, is among several Higher Education (HE) providers in Yorkshire to receive funding from the Office for Students (OfS). This will support investment in facilities and equipment for health and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects.

The aim is to raise higher level skills in these subject areas and promote a retention of talent in West Yorkshire.

Janet Faulkner, Dean of Higher Education at University Centre Leeds, said: “We are keen to create opportunities for students to develop and progress, be it further study or employment while helping us retain the region’s pool of talent.”

The centre has plans to invest in an online learning environment that supports increased access to part-time and other forms of flexible provision. This highlights its commitment to meeting local and national needs and supporting social mobility.

University Centre Leeds will be investing in specialist equipment for laboratory-based subjects in STEM. This will include a sensory/wellbeing room and a health screening lab, providing healthcare students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and behaviours in a practical setting.

This investment highlights the centre’s commitment to meeting local and national needs and will help prepare students for careers in the sector, supporting graduate employability. 

As part of its wider push to bridge skills gaps in healthcare, University Centre Leeds teamed up with Great Ormond Street last year to launch a health play specialists apprenticeship.  The investment in the centre’s healthcare provision/ infrastructure will go a long way in expanding the programme.