Peterborough university can play key role in city's 'growth potential' - principal

A Cambridgeshire university believes teaching people the right skills will make places like them help with economic growth.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves met with students at ARU Peterborough this week to find out how the skills they're learning can help the city's economy through education.

Professor Ross Renton - the university's principal - said most of the students Ms Reeves spoke to "are from the city, learning in the city and they'll be working in the city."

Mr Renton said one of the key messages that Ms Reeves heard from her visit was how a university can help with a city's growth.

"We're not just providing the skills needed for industries and businesses here and wider region," he said.

"(We're) also we're creating an opportunity for knowledge, research and innovation and how we can get inward investment in Peterborough and see that growth potential unlock."

'Opening up opportunities'

Last July, the Government announced the creation of Skills England, which is due to be introduced in phases within nine to 12 months.

It said the organisation would bring the likes of central and local government, businesses and training providers together to "meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions".

Businesses would also be given the power to spend funds from a growth and skills levy on training for the skills they need.

At the time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Skills England would help improve economic growth "by opening up new opportunities for young people and enabling British businesses to recruit more home-grown talent."

Outside support 'makes such a difference'

Mr Renton wants to see more businesses link up with universities such as Anglia Ruskin University in order to grow and help upskill students for the workplace.

He'd also like continued support from local authorities to sustain growth.

"If we can have the support of and we already have, of Peterborough City Council and the (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough) Combined Authority working with us about opening up those opportunities, having a coherent plan for our region, I think that makes such a difference," he added.

"Making sure we know where the skills gaps are, the need for support for the industries we have, our need to support the public sector through change, I think it's about having that plan for the future."

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