First new comprehensive technical college for a generation opens to train UK workers in STEM skills
London South Bank Technical College has opened its doors to students today (27 February 2023) in Nine Elms - London’s fastest-changing riverside district. With this initial £50million investment and a further £50million to follow, London South Bank Technical College will be a national beacon for technical education and will teach a range of newly developed technical courses from construction to robotics using a range of purpose-built hi-tech science, technology and engineering facilities.
Links to employers and support from the University will help ensure that the thousands of students taught each year at London South Bank Technical College will play an important role in filling the UK’s huge science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills shortages:
- A NESTA survey found the data skills shortages costs the UK economy £2billion a year
- In a Microsoft survey in 2020,69% of business leaders said they had a digital skills gap
- 40% of UK employers told a CBI survey a shortage of science, technology, engineering and maths graduates was a major barrier to recruiting staff.
London South Bank Technical College has been supported by funding from the Greater London Authority as well as the UK Government and its significance means to it has already hosted visits from overseas government ministries.
London South Bank Technical College is part of LSBU Group, a unique and growing partnership of secondary, further and higher education providers in south London. LSBU Group is made up of six organisations and was created in 2019 after London South Bank University oversaw the first merger of its kind between a university and college.
Professor David Phoenix, London South Bank University (LSBU) Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Office of LSBU Group, said:
“Investment in London South Bank Technical College recognises the importance of ensuring we have facilities and courses to help train the next generation of scientists, technologists and engineers. The new college will deliver its own specialist courses including T levels and higher technical qualifications with routes into apprenticeships, higher education and highly skilled careers.”
Fiona Morey, South Bank Colleges Executive Principal, said:
“Skills shortages are making it extremely hard for employers in the UK to recruit skilled workers. Our new London South Bank Technical College in Nine Elms will work closely with leading employers in London to give thousands of Londoners the hi-tech skills they need to put them at the front of the queue for in demand STEM jobs. Our new college campus in Nine Elms will give London South Bank Technical College students the state-of-the-art facilities they need to learn the advanced skills for successful careers.”