Representatives from NWSLC were invited for the official announcement of the Prize-winners at a special reception at St James’s Palace in London yesterday.
NWSLC Principal and Chief Executive, Marion Plant OBE, FCGI, who is Chair of the MTI Operations Board, said: “NWSLC, in partnership with its industry partner HORIBA MIRA, came up with the concept for MTI in response to research which showed the demand for specialist technical skills across the automotive sector was rising as successful vehicle manufacturers prepared for large scale growth due to new technological advancements in areas such as electrification and driverless vehicles. However, the development of specialist skills for these new growth areas was lagging behind and faster progress was required to address critical skills gaps in the sector.
“The positive impact the MTI has had to date on developing individuals with these specialist skills for the automotive sector has been remarkable.
“We work tirelessly with our partners, in particular HORIBA MIRA, to build a skills offer that reflects future skills demand trends and enables the Institute to pivot to meet these emerging technologies.
“We’re so proud to have received this prestigious national award that recognises UK colleges and universities whose outstanding work demonstrates excellence and innovation and delivers real benefit to the wider world.”
In a letter to the winners, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, said they had made a tremendous contribution to the life of the country.
He said: “The UK has always been a place of learning, invention and ambition. Our institutions of higher and further education are among the very best in the world. They educate the next generation, train our workforce, and lead the cutting-edge research that drives progress, not just here at home but across the world.
“This year’s Prize-winners show the strength and breadth of that contribution.”
MTI is the result of a unique collaboration led by NWSLC and its partners, HORIBA MIRA, Coventry University, the University of Leicester, and Loughborough University and was built with a £9.5m investment from the Government’s Local Growth Fund via the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.
Since its launch in 2018, MTI has welcomed nearly 61,500 students and delegates, including almost 5,000 learners studying for accredited qualifications from Level 1 certificates to Masters’ degrees and nearly 1,200 apprentices. MTI has provided professional development training for 18,000 professionals from a variety of high-profile automotive and transport companies including Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley Motors, Norton, Royal Enfield, RBW Classic EVs, Aston Martin, JLR, VCA, 3C Test Ltd and Dana. It has also run science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experiences for more than 5,000 school pupils to encourage more young people to consider a career in the automotive engineering sector.
MTI Operations Director Lisa Bingley said: “MTI has a particular focus on offering training in new emerging technologies – such as electrification and driverless cars – to ensure the UK’s automotive sector has a sustainable supply of technical specialists and engineers.
“We offer more than 50 accredited programmes from GCSE level courses through to doctorate level qualifications as well as bespoke training and continuing professional development opportunities. Our innovative curriculum is constantly evolving, and we’ve recently added courses in areas such as sustainability, robotics, artificial intelligence, hydrogen and software defined vehicles.
“We provide access to state-of-the-art facilities and the latest technologies. We foster aspiration and ambition in the next generation of engineers and we’re creating career pathways for young people and professionals alike which are contributing to the development of a stronger and more skilled automotive workforce.
“To have these achievements recognised with a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education is a fantastic accolade for everyone involved with MTI.”
Representatives from NWSLC and the MTI partners will be presented with a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education medal and certificate at an investiture ceremony in the New Year.
