Swindon North MP Will Stone is set to apply for a Defence Technical Excellence College to be established in Swindon, potentially hosted at New College Swindon’s North Star campus. This initiative comes as the government allocates £182 million to create colleges aimed at equipping young people with the skills necessary to support high-technology defence industries.
“I will be making an application as soon as they open,” Mr. Stone stated, highlighting his proactive approach to securing this opportunity for the region. He has been engaging with defence industry companies in Swindon and the surrounding areas, who are eager to see such a college established locally. Notably, Rowden, a company based in Bristol, has expressed interest in developing the skills needed to build their systems within Swindon.
The Defence Technical Excellence College will focus on skills crucial for modern defence technologies, particularly those related to data and computer-driven weapons, and command and control systems. Mr. Stone emphasized the transferability of these skills, stating, “These are very transferable skills: cyber, engineering, AI. They are all used in lots of different industries.”
If the application is successful, Mr. Stone hopes the college could be operational by September next year, aligning with the start of the new academic year. New College Swindon’s North Star campus is a potential host, allowing for immediate commencement of teaching.
New College Swindon has expressed enthusiasm for the project. Matt Butcher, Vice Principal for Commercial, Skills and Partnerships, said, “It’s an exciting time for Swindon, with many innovative companies moving in, particularly in areas such as drone technology and defence. We welcome the opportunity to develop a centre that strengthens Swindon’s position as a hub for advanced industries.”
Butcher further highlighted the college’s commitment to developing and retaining higher technical skills within the local workforce. He mentioned their strong track record in creating specialist hubs for emerging industries, citing the Green Technology Centre, which opened in October this year and delivers cutting-edge electric vehicle training, and SWITCH, a replica hospital ward that uses immersive technologies like AI and VR to upskill the health and social care workforce.
“We will continue working closely with Will Stone and our partners to identify the best ways to support employers and learners across this and other key sectors in the region,” Butcher added.
The Ministry of Education is arranging a meeting between Mr. Stone and the Minister for Skills, Baroness Smith, to discuss the application and its potential impact on Swindon’s defence and technology sectors.
This development underscores Swindon’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation. The establishment of a Defence Technical Excellence College could further solidify the town’s role in the defence industry, providing a skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of modern military technologies.