Skills, Innovation and Productivity: The role of FE Colleges in Local and Regional Ecosystems

This research, funded by the Gatsby Foundation, aims to better understand how the mismatch between supply and demand of vocational skills arises at the regional and local level, and to design and experiment with models that should enhance the role of further education (FE) colleges in regional and
local innovation ecosystems to improve the match. It extends initial work, funded by Innovate UK and the Gatsby Foundation, on the opportunity for colleges to support business innovation – and the connection that
this has for productivity in the UK.

Project Lead: Andy Westwood (University of Manchester)