Innovate UK Talent & Skills Connect Webinar Series
Institutes for Technology Takeover: Building the UK’s Technical Skills Pipeline
This webinar was the first of the new Talent & Skills Connect community takeovers, where members of the IoT network took the lead in sharing insight, innovation and best practice across the talent and skills ecosystem.
The community-focused session focused on how Institutes of Technology (IoTs) are working with industry to close technical skills gaps, build new talent pathways and prepare learners for emerging roles in engineering, digital, construction and life sciences. The session was hosted by Darran Marks (Greater Birmingham & Solihull IoT), who welcomed speakers from across the IoT network and industry.
A national network for higher technical skills
Opening the discussion, Claire Arbery, Vice Chair of the National Institutes of Technology and leader at the National Composites Centre, highlighted how 20 IoTs are helping to develop talent at Levels 4 and 5, backed by almost £300 million of government investment in industry-standard facilities and equipment.
Claire explained that IoTs are designed as regional, employer-led partnerships between colleges, universities and anchor employers, helping learners gain the skills identified in the UK’s industrial strategy, while supporting both early career learners and adults reskilling for new opportunities.
Connecting education and industry
From Greater Manchester IoT, Claire Foreman shared how the IoT’s model enables progression from Level 3 to degree level across multiple providers and the University of Salford, giving students different routes depending on their circumstances, while ensuring employers can choose study formats that work for their business.
In conversation with Claire, Gert Rohrmann from Siemens explained how learners now gain experience with the same industrial software used on real production lines through the Siemens Connected Curriculum. This allows students to “arrive in the workplace ready”, with practical examples that go beyond the qualification itself.
Gert also highlighted how experiences such as workplace projects, site visits and competition training, including support into WorldSkills UK, help learners stand out when applying for roles.
Planning for the UK’s future skills needs
Looking ahead, John Watton, Technical Capability Director at GKN Aerospace, shared emerging skills insights from the Aerospace Growth Partnership. This work has identified 240 future engineering occupations and more than 900 associated skills, with rising demand across electrification, automation, hydrogen technologies, digital systems and sustainability.
John explained that although traditional engineering roles will remain important, the proficiency levels required are changing, with future engineers expected to combine deep technical ability with digital skills, sustainability awareness and collaborative “power skills”.
The analysis reinforces the need for clearer pathways into high-value sectors, including modular learning, micro-qualifications and new forms of apprenticeships.
Unlocking inclusive talent
The session closed with a discussion on inclusion and the potential of learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) to support long-term skills needs.
Suzie Branch-Haddow (BMET College), speaking both professionally and from lived experience as a parent, outlined how supported internships and accessible apprenticeships can open opportunities for young disabled people, an untapped pool of talent in a period of national skills shortage.
Neil Burrows (Burnley College) shared how IoTs and FE partners are building inclusive pathways that help learners progress from Level 2 and 3 into higher levels of technical study, supported by flexible delivery models and industry experience.
With 69% of 16–19-year-olds with an EHCP currently in further education, the IoT model offers an important bridge into higher technical skills and meaningful careers.
A shared mission
Across all contributions, a shared message emerged: closing the UK’s technical skills gap requires coordinated action, shaped by employers, delivered through education, and supported by national strategy.
IoTs provide a practical model for that collaboration aligning industry insight with curriculum design, building skills in real-world settings, and helping learners from diverse backgrounds progress into the careers that will define the UK’s future.
To hear these conversations in full visit the webinar event page. Join Talent and Skills Connect and learn more about how the community is working together to improve the UK’s education and skills system.
Register now and join us for our next webinar ‘Inspiring Educators’.