An additional nine Institutes of Technology have been announced today (Friday, 17 December) in locations including Blackpool, Derby, Salford and Essex, bringing the total to 21 across the country and delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment.

New employer-led Institutes of Technology will offer higher level technical education to help close skills gaps in key STEM areas.

What are Institutes of Technology?

Institutes of Technology, or IoTs for short, are one of the most exciting new developments in post-16 and adult education.

They are  collaborations between further education colleges, universities and local employers, all working together to deliver high quality technical education in subjects as diverse as advanced manufacturing, cyber security, agri-tech and many more.

By having local employers at their heart, IoTs focus on giving people the technical skills that businesses need, which helps them to prosper and leads to more and better local jobs

How are they different to other schools or colleges?

The three main differences between IoTs and other education establishments are:

1. they bring together colleges, universities and employers all working together to develop the skills businesses need now and in the future
2. students of the IoT have access to world-class courses and cutting-edge facilities across the whole IoT regardless of their ‘home’ institution
3. they are open to people of all ages who are looking to develop technical skills

Why were they needed?

IoTs were created to increase the supply of the higher-level technical skills to boost the economy and maximise productivity now and in the future. They are part of the our reforms to technical education to address skills gaps and show how technical education is a credible route to exciting and secure jobs. To deliver the right skills at the right level, we needed a new type of institution that was large enough to benefit from the expertise already in our education system and flexible enough to specialise to local needs and trends.

Who can go to an IoT?

IoTs are open to almost anyone in the area. Their main focus are higher technical courses and higher apprenticeships, although many also offer T Levels, technical degrees and flexible courses for those who are looking to reskill or boost their technical skills.

Where are the IoTs?

There are 12 Institutes of Technology already up and running in areas including in Black Country and the Marches, Greater Birmingham and Solihull, Lincolnshire, North East, South Central, South West, Swindon and Wilshire, West of England and Yorkshire and the Humber. There are also 3 in London; East London, West London and London City.

Institutes of Technology are unique collaborations between employers, colleges and universities that specialise in offering high-quality Higher Technical Education and training in subjects such as advanced manufacturing, digital and cyber security, aerospace and healthcare, which will deliver the skilled workforce businesses need and get more people into jobs closer to home.

Each IoT covers an area or sub-region to focus on plugging local skills gaps and supporting employment opportunities in that area. They were selected following a competition and involve more than 40 FE providers, around 60 leading employers and 18 universities. IoTs currently operate from more than 50 sites across England.