WILTSHIRE College & University Centre’s cutting edge Tech Trowbridge hub earned praise from MP Andrew Murrison as it played host to a Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast.
The chamber chose to hold one of its regular breakfasts at the college after Chair Kes Garner was impressed by Tech Trowbridge during a tour last summer.
Members chatted over a breakfast buffet before being taken on a tour of Tech Trowbridge’s digital laboratories, broadcast and podcasting booths and multi-purpose digital venue, which is dominated by a giant multi-media screen.
Among the guests was the MP for South West Wiltshire, who congratulated the college for taking the lead in bridging the digital skills gap in the county.
“The college is absolutely fundamental to that and the skills that are being inculcated here so well are absolutely crucial to attracting employers to the county town and the general area,” he said.
“I kind of sense that this is where the future is going to be and we need to make sure that Trowbridge is associated with all of this, and that’s the challenge going forward.”
Owain Milford, Head of Faculty, Creative Arts, Media & Performance at the college, told guests that although Tech Trowbridge is delivering IT and business, media production, Esports and film and digital media courses at present, there are plans to expand teaching to include cyber security, game development and visual design.
“We would also like to open up the facilities to the community and to companies eventually,” he said.
Principal and CEO Iain Hatt told guests: “I’m really proud of this facility. For us, it’s about thinking how we use this technology and these skills and what we can do for the sector. One of the great things about the skills students will learn here is that they are transferrable to other industries.”
Chamber Chair Kes Garner said she had been so impressed by the hub when she toured it, she wanted to share the experience with chamber members. “The chamber is here today because we love how many things go on here,” she said.
“There are lots of very interesting courses, especially in the tech world and creative industries. The music and film industry courses have been here for some time but I became aware of the Esports courses so I came to see the new facilities and the Esports arena.
“It’s really cool and everybody should see it because it’s so important for training young people.
“There is an international shortage of trained digital animators and for the film industry that is a massive problem, so it’s great to see that here in Trowbridge there are lots of young people who are able to add these new skills.” For more information about Esports and digital courses at WCUC visit here.
