Jayne Moorby, Head of Marketing, Oxley Group

Cumbria faces significant skills challenges with a shrinking population, traditionally low levels of higher educational attainment and a huge number of vacancies across the region.  The University of Cumbria has played a pivotal role in working with industry to address these challenges, securing funding to develop a new campus in Barrow to address the skills challenges in Furness.  The university team are working closely with industry to design curriculum content that supports specific local needs to enable world leading manufacturing projects to be delivered and to unlock export potential.  The university team are agile and innovative, responding to industry feedback, making provision flexible and building in important employability skills and placements wherever possible.  The role of the university in Furness’ future will be key to the region’s confidence, prosperity and future.

Through a collaborative innovation project with Lancaster University, the University of Cumbria has supported the development of a cluster of electronics and tech companies. The Electech Innovation Cluster brings together industry, research & development, government and education with an aim of maximising potential and driving growth of electronics and tech focused SMEs.  The university has played a central role in facilitating and supporting the cluster to build the region’s reputation as a centre of excellence for Electech, improving economic output and creating high value jobs.