Leeds City College

Leeds City College hosted its first ever Cyber & Digital Innovation Skills Exchange as part of the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival.

Held at the college’s Printworks campus, the one-day workshop brought together industry experts and covered a range of topics about cutting edge research in the digital technology sector.

Employers Extreme Networks, Leeds Teaching Hospital, Coptrz, Redcentric, West Yorkshire Consortium of Colleges (WYCC), and Precursor also explored opportunities for collaboration while discussing what the future would hold.

The initiative was part of the college’s wider push to plug the digital industry’s skills gap by developing a workforce capable of navigating its ever evolving challenges.

Cheryl Macfarlane, Deputy Head of Apprenticeships said: “Leeds is a flourishing hub of digital culture and innovation.

“We are using digital technologies and working collaboratively to enhance our students’ learning and experience as we prepare them for their future careers.

“This event was part of a bigger conversation we need to have about how we can work together to bridge the sector’s skills gaps and how education and industry can work together to provide not only apprenticeship opportunities, but work placements for T Levels.”

The exchange allowed educators, students, and industry professionals to discuss how they can work more closely together to support the sector.

Returning for its third year, the West Yorkshire Innovation Festival brings together businesses, entrepreneurs and experts to share resources and showcase pioneering developments across the region.