The official launch of the £25 million Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology (IoT) was marked by an event attended by Minister of State for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith.
The Stafford facility, which provides higher-level technical education led by Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, welcomed its first cohort of learners in September and has brought educational organisations together with industry partners including Dell, Hitachi, Indurent, MOOG and Siemens.
Baroness Smith emphasised the facility’s importance to the region in the context of the national skills landscape, saying: “I am delighted to attend the official launch event of The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology. This is not just a building – it’s a gateway to future careers, a catalyst for regional growth, and a symbol of what can be achieved when education and industry work hand in hand.”
Other guests in attendance included key industry and education leaders, some who spoke about role of the IoT in aligning education directly with local employment needs across Staffordshire and the wider West Midlands.
Guests were given a guided tour of the facility before a discussion was held by a panel made up of the IoT’s vice principal Georgina Barnard, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce interim chief executive Chris Plant, David Thomas from Siemens, and Steve Beaumont from Drayton Beaumont Services.
Georgina said: “The launch of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology marks a defining moment for our region. By bringing together truly fantastic facilities, employers and leading educational providers, we are creating a powerhouse for technical skills that will drive innovation, productivity and opportunity across Staffordshire and beyond.
“Our mission is clear: to equip learners with the advanced skills that local businesses need to thrive, while inspiring the next generation to see technical education as a pathway to success.”
