Somerset Day 2022

Tomorrow is Somerset Day (May 11th) and my thoughts turn to the rapid transformational change currently taking place in this 'land of the summer people.

One of England's best-loved counties and often associated with stunning countryside, historic cities, cream teas and cider, Somerset's sometimes violent and resistant past has played a significant part in shaping national events. ?Armies have marched across its pleasant landscape, and bloody battles have been fought – including the Battle of Sedgemoor, the final battle of the Monmouth Rebellion, deemed by many to be the last actual battle to be fought on English soil.

Over time, the resilient and determined character of the people of Somerset has changed the face of the land, with the development of roads, canals, railways and drainage infrastructure proving pivotal to the County's fortunes - allowing industries to spring up that will be forever associated with the County, such as cheese and cider making, glassmaking, shoe and glove manufacture, coal mining and brick and tile manufacture. ?Their legacy stands alongside Somerset's traditional industries of agriculture, food and drink manufacture and – more recently – tourism.

And we are now witnessing another sea change, as the impetus for innovation and growth – combined with Somerset's prime location concerning the road, rail and airport hubs – is resulting in unprecedented inward investment that's changing the face of our County yet again, including one of the earliest and most significant investments in rural digital connectivity in the UK.

The advent of major infrastructure projects such as the nuclear new build at Hinkley Point C (HPC) and the Gravity development at the former Royal Ordnance Factory at J23 of the M5 (forming part of the strategically vital South West Enterprise Zone) bring with them employment, training and work experience opportunities the like of which we have never seen before. ?However, the challenge for businesses, communities, and individuals is how to harness those opportunities for maximum benefit when new, critical skills – such as the latest nuclear construction and operation techniques - have no formal accreditation and no training legacy.

I believe that the key to unlocking these opportunities lies in early, incisive action to understand and articulate the current and emerging skills training needs of key business sectors. ?To proactively forge and nurture close relationships with a wide range of community stakeholders, such as employers, County and Local Councils, LEPs and sector organisations such as Chambers of Commerce, so that constant dialogue over many years results in a deep understanding of the skills training needs of employers across the entire spectrum, whether micro-businesses or huge multinationals.

We at Bridgwater & Taunton College have seen this translate into significant public and private investment in innovative training facilities and bespoke curricula – not only the National College for Nuclear and the South West Institute of Technology but also Centres of Excellence for agriculture, construction, welding and Mechanical Training - that support not only the unique training needs of HPC and Gravity but the UK's nuclear renaissance and the Government's Industrial Strategy as a whole. ?By enabling local people to upskill and retrain, we are supporting them to significantly improve their earnings and job satisfaction, reducing our region's reliance on overseas labour and increasing the self-sufficiency of UK plc.

We are also now seeing – catalysed by the Covid-19 pandemic – a rapid technological change that sees digitalisation becoming relevant to every industry sector; remote healthcare delivery to an increasing elderly population, low carbon renewable energy, environmental technologies, innovation in manufacturing and processing and the development of more sustainable agri-food systems that incorporate robots, temperature and moisture sensors and GPS technology. ?If businesses gain a competitive advantage in the modern marketplace, they need a responsive, forward-facing training environment that places employers and their needs at the front and centre of their daily operation.

This is where Further Education (FE) comes into its own as a catalyst for change, providing a collaborative, nurturing environment and 'one-stop shop' for a range of activities – whether apprenticeships, study programmes, events, lectures and presentations, seminars, workshops, careers fairs, internships or work experience – designed to identify and address business skills training needs at the grassroots level and supporting individuals and employers alike to innovate, collaborate, grow, and take full advantage of the vast array of opportunities on offer. ?FE has long been the unsung hero of the educational world – now, finally, it is finding its voice.