New skills centre plan for Dorset park
By Amy Woodward·A new skills centre is proposed as Dorset Innovation Park reports 125 jobs.
The former nuclear site at Winfrith, which is owned by Dorset Council and run by Dorset Innovation Park Ltd, has reported progress in defence, security and autonomous technology since the company took full management in July.
Most of the new full time equivalent posts have come from businesses that are already based at the park, with support from the company and the council as part of work to help firms expand on site.
The proposed Advanced Engineering and Defence Skills Centre, which is a partnership between Yeovil College and Dorset Council, would create a permanent base for technical education, apprenticeships and employer led workforce development if the Department for Education and the Ministry of Defence approve funding.
Bournemouth University is also involved through its Security Operations Centre of the Future, which is based at BattleLab and would strengthen cyber security research and skills provision as another project at the park.
Dorset Council cabinet member Councillor Richard Biggs said the shared focus had been on “creating the conditions for businesses to invest and grow”, and added that the work was “producing results”.
