The Isle of Wight College is celebrating the announcement of a new business centre as part of the skillslabs project funded by the Department for Education.

The college is hosting a one-day event next Thursday (March 3) where specialists from marine technology, Net Zero and digital futures industries will be on hand to discuss the future needs of skills training and education for business.

Fareham College is regional lead in partnership with five other colleges and professional partners in the Solent region.

Funding is coming from the Department for Education’s Strategic Development Fund for the design and development of two new Business Centres, based at Fareham College with a hub at the Isle of Wight College.

The key aim of the Business Centre is to improve economic activity, particularly for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro-businesses.

With access to business skills specialists, the new Business Centre will support SME growth, developing the region’s expanding technology sectors and creating a step-change in the capacity to improve clean growth and carbon reduction, digital futures, and marine technology.

The Isle of Wight ‘skillslabs’ Business Centre, due for completion in May, will act as a ‘hub’ providing employers with better access to the training they require, when and how they need it.

A college spokesperson said: "The Solent region has good levels of entrepreneurship and small business start-up but a disproportionally high level of small business failure. We aim to address this."

The event on March 3 will introduce employers to this new business centre.

Attendees will be able to meet the industry lead for this project along with the principal of the Isle of Wight College, Debbie Lavin; director of business centres, Beverley Poole; and a representative of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.

Specialist speakers include Conrad Manning for marine technology (10am); Astrid Davies for net zero (12pm); and David Taylor for digital futures (2pm).

The ‘skillslabs’ event is free to attend, refreshments will be available, and businesses will be able to sign up to be a part of the future industry boards that will meet regularly at the business centres.

Book your place HERE – you can attend in person or online, as the event will be livestreamed.