Tag: Skills

Colchester Institute Chief Executive, Alison Andreas, speaking at the launch of the new Construction Training Centre in Colchester

Colchester Institute and L Lynch Launch New Construction Training Centre in Colchester

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Colchester Institute and leading plant hire and infrastructure specialist L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage have officially launched a new Construction Training Centre in Colchester designed to support the significant and growing demand for skilled plant operatives across major infrastructure projects in the East of England, including Sizewell C, National Grid and the Lower Thames Crossing.

The launch of this new training centre marks the beginning of an exciting collaboration that will help connect individuals with training opportunities, leading to long-term careers in the construction industry.

Find out more: https://www.colchester.ac.uk/2026/06/11/l-lynch-launch-construction-training-centre/

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firefighter apprentices scaled

Colchester Institute Celebrates Outstanding Apprenticeship Achievement Rates

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Colchester Institute is celebrating a fantastic set of apprenticeship results for 2024/25, achieving an impressive 72.9% apprenticeship achievement rate. This means nearly three-quarters of apprentices successfully completed their apprenticeship programme, placing Colchester Institute 7.5% above the national average and marks an 8.1% improvement on last year’s performance.

Colchester Institute also recorded outstanding results across several individual subject areas including Construction, Engineering, and Mechanical and Electrical Services. Most notably, the Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician apprenticeship achieved the highest outcomes in the country, with a 90.3% achievement rate, significantly outperforming the national average of 44.2%.

These achievements mean the College is now ranked 6th nationally among large FE colleges for apprenticeship achievement, a significant milestone for the region.

Image credit: Colchester Institute

Read more: Outstanding Apprenticeship Achievement Rates – Colchester Institute

Colchester Institute's Alison Andreas, Principal and Chief Executive with Mark Emerson, Vice Principal, Curriculum Innovation and Transformation

Colchester Institute designated a Clean Energy Technical Excellence College (CETEC)

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Colchester Institute has been given a share of £175m by the Government to transform it into a centre of technical excellence.

The government has awarded the Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs) status to 19 new colleges across the country but Colchester Institute is one of only five colleges to receive clean energy designation.

The funding aims to help deliver high-quality training in the sectors driving Britain’s growth such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defence, as well as digital and technologies.

Picture credit:  Colchester Institute

More follows: https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/26018112.colchester-institute-technical-excellence-college/

 

 

New £2.5 million BioSTAR laboratory to open at the University of Essex to train scientists for the NHS and the life-sciences sector

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The facility will boost the training of healthcare scientists whose expertise underpins 80 per cent of NHS diagnoses – whilst also providing students with the research skills needed to work in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.

Opening to undergraduates in 2026, the BioSTAR-Lab, will include a Microbiology and Cancer Diagnostics Laboratory and an open-plan Molecular Biology Laboratory in the School of Life Sciences.

Read more … https://tinyurl.com/nn23dkfm

UOE Life Sciences microscope 1000x1000
UOE Life Sciences microscope 1000×1000

Image credit: University of Essex

University of Essex in UK top 20 for driving innovation in business

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The University of Essex is once again in the UK top 20 for using research to drive innovation in businesses, charities and public services.

Essex became the first higher education institution in England to work on 50 active Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. It also celebrated success in the UKRI AI & Robotics Awards, where the team won the Best Demonstration Award after showcasing their work to revolutionise the agriculture sector by applying their expertise in robotics and AI.  In a demonstration of its breadth of scope it also held an AI Summit for a variety of public services.

Essex is one of the very best for knowledge exchange | University of Essex

University of Essex 12th in UK and ahead of many Russell Group Universities

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The University of Essex has moved up to 12th place in the latest Guardian University Guide – its highest ranking ever.

Ranking 1st for Drama in the Guardian University Guide 2026, Essex is also in the top 10 for many other subjects, including 3rd for anatomy and physiology, 6th for biology, 6th for nursing, 6th for mathematics and 10th for sports science.

In addition, Essex is in the UK top 10 for three social science subjects – criminology, economics and international relations, which are all 9th in the guide.

The overall ranking of 12th means Essex is ahead of many Russell Group universities and second in the East of England, only behind the University of Cambridge.

University of Essex 12th in Guardian University Guide 2026 | University of Essex