New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) is an unprecedented opportunity to inspire a new generation of engineering talent and to transform the UK’s higher education sector. Working with a wide range of stakeholders, NMITE is backed by government, industry and academic partners.
Our revolutionary model seeks to break the mould in engineering education with our innovative, learnercentric and industry-based approach to ensure the future learners are “work-ready” when they complete their courses. Our proposed programmes will champion a ‘learning by doing’ methodology, developed to meet the engineering demands of the 21st century and working with industry partners from day one of the programme. We will be seeking bright individuals with problemsolving potential, creativity, curiosity and imagination, without compromising on academic rigour.
We have exciting plans to develop outstanding facilities, including a Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT). This world-class centre will showcase the practical uses of timber as a construction material, production methodology and design. In doing so it will become a beacon of sustainability, supporting established local, national and international timber-based construction industries, and providing opportunities for NMITE’s future graduates. Furthermore, it will answer the timber industry’s call for an improvement in timber education, as highlighted at BM TRADA’s inaugural Timber Talks conference in London in July.
A training hub of national and international significance, the CATT will provide opportunities for continuing professional development courses and, looking ahead, timber engineering degree apprenticeships to respond to existing sector demands for a highly trained workforce.
Located at the heart of Hereford’s Enterprise Zone, the CATT is part of a significant £16m Skylon Park campus – a development of three buildings partly funded by a £5.6m grant from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership. The CATT is currently in design phase (RIBA stage 2) with completion scheduled for March 2021. Hereford-based oak-framed building specialist Oakwrights has been announced as the winner of NMITE’s competition to create the designs for the three new buildings on the Skylon site.
We are seeking to work with industry partners and funders to help us to develop this state-of-the-art facility. As a leader in the timber industry, we would welcome your input and guidance into the courses we offer and equipment we should include in this centre, which we are anticipating will be designed and built by the industry, for the industry. Co-creation is critical for success and we encourage your support in this venture.
Please contact Toby Kinnaird, head of partnerships (toby.kinnaird@nmite.ac.uk), or Harriet Dearden, head of fund-raising (harriet.dearden@nmite.ac.uk) to discuss opportunities available and how you can be involved in one of the UK’s most exciting projects in this field.
