A new collaboration between the University of Northampton, Moulton College and Northampton College has been launched to coordinate the county’s skills provision and strengthen the local talent pipeline.
The initiative, called Futureskills Northamptonshire, creates a formal structure for the three institutions to work together on a shared skills strategy. The agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the partners, setting out plans to deliver training that reflects employer needs across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, construction, health, digital, and logistics.
Professor Anne-Marie Kilday, Vice Chancellor and CEO of University of Northampton, said: “Futureskills Northamptonshire not only means local people will have easy access to a wider range of high-quality education at every stage of their lives, but it will also help us power the region’s economy by matching that education to the needs of employers across a range of sectors where there are gaps in the local workforce.
“This new way of working, more closely and collaboratively with the county’s colleges, shows how Northamptonshire is leading the way responding to the needs of learners and business alike.”
The partnership will map and align education routes across all levels, from entry programmes to postgraduate study. It will also expand access to retraining and upskilling for adults to improve workforce resilience and support Northamptonshire’s economic goals.
A Tripartite Skills Board will guide delivery and ensure the strategy reflects priorities in the Local Skills Improvement Plan, the East Midlands Combined County Authority growth agenda and the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.
Futureskills Northamptonshire was launched at an event at Northampton College on 17 November. The partners plan to increase progression between institutions, develop more employer-shaped courses, and position the county as a model for coordinated skills planning by 2027.
