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Colchester
Ultra Ready for Business
Focus on Skills:
Growing Our Own
Colchester has a working age population of
91,800 people of whom 81% are employees
and 19% are self-employed. As a sub-regional
centre the Borough also draws its workforce
from neighbouring authorities in North Essex
and South Suffolk. However, Colchester’s
proximity to London also means that there is
significant out commuting, an issue which the
Council is keen to address through inward
investment activity.
Colchester is well positioned to retain more talent locally and
‘grow its own’ with a range of high quality education options
which generate an abundance of talent to help their businesses
grow and prosper. The Borough has 63 primary schools,
10 secondary schools, the Colchester Institute as the Further
Education College, the Colchester 6th Form College and the
University of Essex. Two of Colchester’s secondary schools,
The Colchester County High School for Girls and the Colchester
Royal Grammar School, are both in the top 10 nationally for
GCSE results.
Stand Out Skills Development
Beyond the formal education route Colchester continues its
skills development on a range of fronts. The Edge Hotel
School at the Wivenhoe House Hotel is the country’s only hotel
school set in a 4* operational hotel. The school offers a
fast-track Hotel Management Degree designed to provide the
best possible preparation for the realities of a job - and
ultimately a successful career - in the hospitality industry.
The Eastern Enterprise Hub is the leading provider of
entrepreneurial support in the East of England. Supportive of
would-be entrepreneurs across the piece, the EEH also runs
the Games Hub in association with Shark Infested Custard and
the University of Essex. On completion of the Games Hub
training programme, which is fully funded and therefore free
to applicants, the development teams are able to show their
game to invited media, investors and publishers with the aim of
getting investment to take their game to market. The programme
has strong support from the gaming industry including
Microsoft, Dlala Studios, Square Enix and Tower Studios.
STEM Strength Coming Through
A new £10m teaching centre for science, technology, engineering
and mathematics (STEM) students is to be built at the University
of Essex creating a ‘science square’ at the Colchester Campus.
The new teaching centre will enhance provision of high quality
laboratory and IT learning spaces, and will also support
developments in interdisciplinary teaching, for example the
University’s new degree programme in Data Science and
Analytics. This Degree is based on Essex’s internationally
recognised research expertise in this area and engagement
with employers and industry. The new centre will open in 2017.
Responsive
Relationships are the key word in Colchester. There are
strong links between Further Education, secondary schools,
the University and industry.
Currently The Mercury Theatre is working with the Colchester
Institute to offer a Degree in Technical Theatre, including
lighting, sound, stage management and scenic construction to
address a skills gap caused by the increasing popularity of
Festivals. In addition, a playwriting competition and festival is
being developed jointly with the University of Essex. A funding
bid has been submitted to test the feasibility of completing
on-the-job NVQs.
The University of Essex’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
(KTPs) support businesses to improve their competitiveness,
productivity, performance and profitability by accessing
knowledge and expertise available on campus. KTPs provide
solutions to a specific strategic issue such as product R&D or
developing new management processes.