Six educational bodies are to benefit from £2.5m thanks to Greater Lincolnshire’s devolution deal to help them build new skills training infrastructure for the agrifood sector.
The money is part of the devolution deal agreed with the government last year for Greater Lincolnshire to get a new combined authority headed up by an elected mayor.
Riseholme College, DN Colleges Group, Boston College, Lincoln College, the Lincoln Institute of Agrifood Technology and the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (both University of Lincoln) will share the pot of money to improve training infrastructure, buildings and equipment.
Skills capital grants for teaching skills to support agrifood in the county are being distributed by the UK Food Valley, a support organisation launched by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership which is now part of Lincolnshire County Council.
Greater Lincolnshire’s devolution deal brings additional funding every year, not only to support and grow inward investment but also in the form of specific capital funding.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, said: “I know from talking to farmers and food producers that they often struggle to find the skilled workforce they need – food and farming is more technical than many people realise! I made a commitment to them that I would address this as Mayor.
“New laboratories and equipment to provide training such as hydroponics, soil science, food research and digital skills will really help our businesses. This is a key industry in Lincolnshire for jobs, investment and growth, but also for our national food security. The additional funding is a good start, but I’m determined to see even more investment in this area, so our food industries thrive and flourish.”
Cllr Liam Kelly, executive councillor for Growth, said: “The UK Food Valley is now being driven forward by Lincolnshire County Council, and we’re completely committed to helping the agri-food sector reach its full potential”
“It’s vital that businesses in the sector have access to the skilled and trained workforce that they need so they can remain at the forefront of innovation and new technology, which will help us drive forward the local economy.”
Effie Warwick-John, UK Food Valley Programme Manager at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This new funding for colleges and universities will provide the skills to support the uptake of automation and digitalisation across the supply chain, upskilling the workforce and boosting the sector’s productivity.
“We’re confident that the training infrastructure, buildings and equipment that these educational bodies will develop from this funding will be a great benefit to the UK Food Valley, furthering our ambition to position the Greater Lincolnshire food sector as a world leading food cluster.”
A total of £2.5m of this has been allocated for grants within the UK Food Valley in south Lincolnshire.
The money will be spent as follows:
Riseholme College, Lincoln
£600,000 - Resource Investment in Future Agri-Skills
A Centre for Plant and Soil Science will be created by expanding the current practical teaching space at Riseholme Park and refurbishing the University of Lincoln’s Showground Campus. Industry-standard agricultural equipment, including a telehandler, tractor and trailer and a portable weighbridge platform, will be purchased.
The centre will support the delivery of a range of qualifications across FE, HE, apprenticeships and short and part-time courses in agriculture and horticulture.
DN Colleges Group
£600,000 - Food Science & Engineering Laboratories
The group is proposing to develop state-of-the-art laboratories dedicated to supporting an advanced science and engineering portfolio including a degree in food science (foundation with BSc top up) with the potential to develop higher level or degree apprenticeships.
This requires investment in a bespoke laboratory resource including advanced microbiology, chemical analysis equipment and food processing and automation components.
Boston College
£699,000 - Agri-food Hub
A cutting-edge Agrifood Hub will be housed in a modular building on an existing car park within the college site, comprising a new product development (NPD) kitchen, digital suite and hydroponics unit to upskill young people and adults within the agrifood sector.
The facility will provide state-of-the-art training in hydroponic farming, sustainable food production and innovative product development techniques, addressing regional skills gaps by partnering with a private company (Hydrogarden Ltd) and the University of Lincoln (Food Enterprise & Food Manufacturing Centre).
Claire Foster, Principal and Chief Executive of Boston College, said: “We are delighted that Boston College has secured £699,000 from the UK Food Valley to create our state-of-the-art Agrifood Hub.
“This transformative investment unlocks potential across Greater Lincolnshire's food sector – a region producing one-eighth of England's food. Our new facilities will drive innovation, sustainability and workforce excellence, enabling businesses and students to co-create the future of food as we establish Greater Lincolnshire as a global leader in sustainable agrifood.”
Lincoln College
£240,000 - AgriLinc Training Hub
The AgriLinc Training Hub will deliver tailored driver training programmes to address the critical shortage of HGV drivers; learners will secure Class 1 HGV licences and forklift truck qualifications to ease the shortages affecting Lincolnshire’s agrifood sector.
The proposed hub, including a large, bespoke warehouse simulation space for learners, will be located at premises operated by Branston Ltd at Nocton Nurseries in Nocton. The college will purchase two HGV lorries and trailers, three forklift trucks and IT equipment, employ three new trainers and deliver the training with Branston Ltd as its contracted partner.
Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology, University of Lincoln
£360,000 - Soils, plant and food analysis skills and training laboratory
This project will transform and equip existing space in the Riseholme Rural Sciences building to create a new laboratory for soils, plant, and food analysis skills development. LIAT will oversee the project delivery, and the laboratory rejuvenation will support multiple agri-food disciplines, including soil analysis, field testing, crop management and food quality.
The laboratory complements the university’s current course provision (apprenticeships, short courses and BASIS training) at both Riseholme and the National Centre for Food Manufacturing in Holbeach. LIAT intends to use this laboratory to deliver courses to approximately 180 agronomists, growers, and young people pursuing careers in the agri-food sector.
Professor Simon Pearson, Founding Director of LIAT, said: “We’re delighted to receive our award from the UK Food Valley capital skills programme. The funds will be deployed to install new teaching facilities on our Riseholme Campus to support the development of students from the county with advanced skills in the modern technologies now underpinning agriculture and food production.
“The teaching will be informed by our world-class team within the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology and colleagues from the National Centre for Food Manufacturing.”
National Centre for Food Manufacturing, University of Lincoln
£240,000 - STEM Digital Hub
The STEM Digital Hub will empower students, professionals and businesses with the essential digital and STEM skills needed by the workforce of the future. It will provide hands-on training, industry-aligned courses and innovative learning experiences to support skills development and industry advancement, and in doing so support regional growth.
The project will be implemented at the Institute of Technology building at the Peppermint Park campus on the Food Enterprise Zone in Holbeach and will feature digital classrooms and laboratories.
