Bridport College of Sustainable Skills and Technologies
Lead Research Organisation:
University of the Arts London
Department Name: Social Design Institute
Abstract
As agreed with AHRC please see the Case for Support attachment for the full application information
| Description | The award resulted in a clear proposal for the Town Council and a consortia of businesses and other organisations to take forward. The proposal contains two connected ideas: 1) a local learning hub, a new connective infrastructure that joins up and enhances existing skills provision, making education and training more accessible to people in and around Bridport, and 2) a specialist college of regenerative practice, developing and teaching leading edge regenerative practice across a number of domains critical to human and planetary flourishing. Together the proposals meet the aims of the Design Exchange Partnership to address the skills/ training gap locally, particularly around green economy skills. |
| Exploitation Route | As a result of this project there has evolved a local learning consortia - businesses, organisations interested in the premise of developing opportunities for young people and addressing skills shortage, especially around supporting the shift to a low carbon more circular economy. This group has met 3 or 4 times and is currently working on funding bids into Dorset Council's Shared Prosperity Fund to support piloting of a Bridport Futures Learning Hub. The Learning Hub idea has received a good level of support from councillors and a range of businesses/ organisations in the town. The learning hub concept has been cited in proposals being taken forward in both the food and arts/ culture sector. Bridport has been declared the inaugural Dorset Town of Culture and central to the pitch for arts funding is a youth skills and leadership programme and the need for a digital hub to promote opportunities for young people to learn about and develop skills in theatre/ film and production management. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy Education Environment Government Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://www.bridport-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bridport-Learning-Hub_Final-Report_August-2023.pdf |
| Description | The findings constitute a clear proposal for a new skills/ education service in Bridport, Dorset, which forms part of the town's wider 'investment plan'. The Town Council is coordinating a consortia of interested local parties (businesses, skills/ training providers, charities, educators etc) to support and submit a funding application based around the proposal, for funds in order to enact it. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Proposal for new local skills/ training hub/ service |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Although the project has not been enacted yet, the proposed solution would increase access to skills/ training/ education in a rural area where this is currently a challenge, especially for young people, and where businesses have trouble recruiting the right people into the workforce. |
| URL | https://www.bridport-tc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Bridport-Learning-Hub_Final-Report_August-... |