Institutes of Technology can help plug skills gap to meet Yorkshire’s green home aspirations

The findings, published on behalf of the Institutes of Technology (IoT), show the extent of Yorkshire & The Humber’s demand for sustainable living, with 75 per cent of residents revealing they would consider a home to be worth more money if it was sustainably constructed.

The IoT is a network of regional partnerships between local colleges, universities and leading employers across England, with York College acting as lead partner for the Yorkshire & Humber region.

Michelle Donelan, Minister for Higher and Further Education, said: “Institutes of Technology are not only playing a critical role in helping to close skills gaps in key sectors such as sustainable construction, but crucially, they are providing people with high quality technical training that leads to good jobs, helping to level up opportunity across our country.

“The need to support sectors such as advanced manufacturing and engineering, construction and digital looks set to only grow and with their close ties to employers, Institutes of Technology will be the driving force behind ensuring the workforce is ready for future technological change and changing working practices.”

The report also shows that whilst the majority of people in our region currently use electricity [75 per cent] and gas [67 per cent], they say if cost wasn’t a factor then 46 per cent would opt for renewable sources of energy.

Furthermore 46 per cent of Yorkshire & Humber residents would choose good insulation in their next home over fibre broadband (43 per cent) or a entertaining space (25 per cent).

Paul Lawrence, Director of Strategic Partners and External Relations at York College, who also chairs the YHIOT marketing group, said it was essential the Yorkshire & Humber IoT continues to be at the forefront of providing the skilled workforce needed to meet the region’s green ambitions.

“The report shows that York College and our IoT partners in Yorkshire & The Humber are essential in providing a future workforce skilled in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) as well as sustainable construction, electric vehicles and other technologies,” he said.

“We have more than 75 courses throughout the IoT’s in our region, including York, which are answering the need for these skills as the UK recovers from the pandemic.”

As well as covering energy and construction, the report looks into other challenges communities face and how IoTs are helping to plug gaps. The topics include, Cyber: Tackling threats to national security, Electric Vehicles: Driving transport innovation and Agriculture: Cultivating technical skills.

Download the full report here