Minister for Skills Visits GBSIoT Hub to Discuss Regional Workforce Development
On Thursday, 20th February, the Minister for Skills, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, visited the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology (GBSIoT) Hub to engage with key stakeholders and discuss collaborative efforts in addressing the skills needs of the West Midlands region.
The Minister was formally welcomed by Pat Carvalho, AoC President, GBSIoT Board Director, and Principal and CEO of BMet College. The visit commenced with a meet and greet, where the Minister was introduced to a range of influential leaders in education and business, including Mike Hopkins MBE (Principal and Chief Executive, South & City College Birmingham), Nancy Buckley (Vice Principal Business Growth, Skills and Partnerships, Solihull College & University Centre), Rosa Wells (FE Principal, University College Birmingham; GBSIoT Board Director and IoT Network Chair), and Henrietta Brealey (CEO, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce), among others.
Addressing Regional Skills Needs
A key discussion, titled Fragmented to Coherent, focused on the skills challenges in the West Midlands and how GBSIoT’s collaboration with four universities and three further education colleges is working in partnership with employers and stakeholders to bridge these gaps. The conversation underscored the importance of coordinated efforts in enhancing workforce development across the region.
Working with SMEs: Developing Recruitment Pipelines and Diversity
The Minister then met with Matthew Challinor, Director of Automation Controls Limited, and Chris Resuello, a recent GBSIoT graduate who progressed from BMet College to Birmingham City University and is now employed as a Graduate Project Engineer at Automation Controls Limited. The discussion explored how SMEs benefit from partnerships with GBSIoT through talent acquisition and recruitment initiatives while also supporting students through real-world projects, T Level placements, and summer Tech Camps. Fiona McGarry, Sector Engagement Manager with Enginuity and GBSIoT Board member, joined the discussion, highlighting efforts in championing diversity and inclusion within the sector.
Following this, the Minister embarked on a tour of the GBSIoT Learning Factory, which houses one of the largest commissioned Cyber Physical Manufacturing rigs in Europe. Led by Dr. Mairi Kerin, the tour showcased how this cutting-edge facility functions as a ‘factory of the future,’ providing a dynamic and innovative learning environment for students at all levels.
Engaging with Higher Education and Progression Routes
The visit continued with an introduction to Birmingham City University’s teaching at the Hub. The Minister observed a lecture led by Jon Isaacs, a Chartered Engineer and Lecturer at BCU, covering cyber security and smart factory concepts. This session illustrated how students gain industry-relevant expertise through the IoT initiative.
A subsequent discussion focused on progression routes available within the GBSIoT collaboration, particularly the transition from South & City College Birmingham to the University of Birmingham. The Minister met with Mike Hopkins MBE, Dr. Varsha Radhakrishnan, and former students Hamed Mirshekarlou and Martin Dufficy, who have now become full-time lecturers at South & City College Birmingham. Their journey exemplifies the opportunities available for local students to progress into higher education and high-skilled engineering careers.
Strengthening Collaborative Working
The Minister also engaged in a broader discussion on national coordination in skills development, joined by key figures including Rosa Wells (IoT Network Chair), Pat Carvalho (AoC President), and representatives from the Gatsby Foundation. The conversation, titled Competitive to Coordinated, explored how institutions can work together to enhance training and workforce readiness across the UK.
During this session, attendees were invited for an additional tour of the Learning Factory to gain a deeper understanding of its facilities and innovative teaching approaches.
Supporting SEND Students
Before concluding the visit, the Minister met Craig McCauley, an Access to Further Education Lecturer at Solihull College & University Centre. Craig discussed his work in supporting SEND students through GBSIoT, showcasing how the institution provides inclusive opportunities for learners facing additional challenges.
Final Roundtable Discussion
The visit culminated in a roundtable discussion, joined by Councillor Sharon Thompson (Deputy Mayor, WMCA; Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, Birmingham City Council) and Sameer Ali (Director, Didactic Services LTD). Sameer outlined why the Northern Ireland IoT Hub has been visiting GBSIoT to learn from its collaborative model, while Councillor Thompson highlighted the skills ambitions of WMCA and the significant progress being made in implementing the Local Skills Improvement Plan.
The Minister’s visit to GBSIoT underscored the vital role of collaboration in skills development, employer engagement, and student progression. By fostering strong partnerships between education providers and industry, GBSIoT is making a tangible impact on workforce readiness in the West Midlands. The visit reinforced the importance of collaboration between further education, universities and industry to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of technical education and innovation.