New technology and training centre opens in Bristol

The official opening of QA's new technology training and apprenticeship centre, is led by Bristol City Council's Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Councillor Claire Hiscott.

• Growing success in local tech companies creates a ‘digital skills gap’ and demand for a new training centre
• The new training facility in Bristol will enable development of professionals in technology, digital and business skills
• It will also offer the opportunity for hundreds of local young adults, to be trained and placed into technology and business apprenticeships

Today, QA, the UK’s largest technology training and apprenticeships provider, officially launched their new training facility in Bristol, Castlemead.

Councillor Claire Hiscott, Bristol’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, cut the ribbon, to mark the occasion alongside QA Apprenticeships Director, Ben Pike. Also, in attendance were local employers who will benefit from QA’s technology training by assisting with closing their ‘digital skills gaps’, as well as young adults who have completed a QA apprenticeship, within a local organisation.

Ben Pike, Director, QA, said “Throughout other parts of the UK we have seen the extraordinary value that technology training and apprentices bring to organisations, within the private and public sector. By providing a local training facility right here in Bristol, local organisations can get access to cutting edge digital skills - be that through up-skilling existing employees, or future proofing their tech talent through apprenticeship programs – meaning that they can maximize the advantage that modern technology brings, and compete even more aggressively."

After the ribbon was cut, photos were taken and the event concluded with a live Q&A session, where apprentices and local apprentice employers were asked questions about their experiences. Local organisations interested in hiring apprentices were also able to get their questions answered by QA's apprenticeship experts. 

The training centre has 9 training rooms fitted out for technology and business skills training, alongside a dedicated apprenticeship facility. The centre will help local organisations source and train apprentice level talent in the areas of digital and business skills, and enable immediate access to IT, Software Development, Cyber Security, Cloud, Agile, Systems and Networking, Project Management, Coaching and Leadership, Microsoft Office, and Business Analysis training.

Councillor Claire Hiscott, Bristol Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said “We are pleased to welcome QA’s new training facility to Bristol, Castlemead. It will help us to further grow as a technology centre, and encourage organisations within the technology sector to keep their offices within the area, knowing that they are supported with high quality technology training, locally. It will also provide a new source of talent from their apprenticeships division. We are pleased that the youth of Bristol, have another route to employment through this invaluable service.”

With the upcoming apprenticeship levy coming into place, April, large organisations in the local area, will be looking for effective ways to utilise their apprenticeship levy budget. Bridging their digital skills gaps will be high priority, given the high rate of technological change, within organisations’ systems and services. Through QA’s apprenticeship division, they will be able to easily source and employ apprentices for their technical, cyber security, and marketing teams; who will receive training with QA, which is often funded by government.

Press Contact information

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