Education a bedrock for city’s future
You can't help but notice that North Staffordshire is getting its act together when it comes to planning for a better future. City council leaders, the business community and education providers are venturing into a brave new world – and it’s a world with more joined up thinking than has been viewed in this city probably since the Industrial Revolution itself.
Right at the heart of city leaders’ strategy is an ambitious master plan to make education a central theme of regeneration – building firm foundations for a brighter future.
It’s a unique answer for a unique city and it’s the brainchild of the city’s three main further education providers – Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent College and the Sixth Form College – which are now driving the £285million education-led regeneration of the University Quarter (UniQ).
The ambition is to invest in world class education facilities at the University Quarter – an area covering South Shelton from the College’s Cauldon campus through to the University and a relocated sixth form on Leek Road overlooking a vital gateway to the city – creating a place where the local community will want to go to develop and enhance their skills. This wealth of highly skilled people will attract businesses to the region and lay the long term foundations for economic regeneration across North Staffordshire.
Explains Chair of the UniQ steering group and deputy vice chancellor of Staffordshire University Paul Richards: “The partnership was originally an education link-up between the University, the college and the sixth form college with whom we have long standing relationships, but since then it’s broadened to include regeneration partners across the region.
“It has been five years in the planning. In the early days we quickly realised the importance of education in the future of the city and the ability of the education partners to drive immense and far-reaching change. But we knew it was a vision we couldn’t achieve on our own, so we have developed partnerships with the city council, North Staffs Regeneration Partnership, the Learning and Skills Council RENEW, Advantage West Midlands and Sanctuary Housing Association to make this happen.
In the 80s and 90s everyone was looking for a big foreign investor to save the area. Times have changed and we are not looking for that solution, we want to drive regeneration from within, and that’s a much more sustainable and much more likely to impact at every level.
"UniQ is so much more than new buildings. We have set out to drive change across the city – to change peoples’ expectations and aspirations, raise achievement in schools and ensure both students’ and employers’ needs are met right here in the heart of the city.
“It is a key part of the entire region’s regeneration. By raising educational achievement we are creating a skilled workforce capable of taking our existing business community forward and capable of attracting new businesses to the area.
“We are investing time, energy and money in the city because we think it’s a great place to be.”
While the planning stages are far advanced, such wholesale change won’t happen overnight – the developments will stretch over the next five years and beyond (funding permitting).
Says Paul: It has taken us a long time to get this far, because we have done it alongside the day job – but there has been a growing commitment along the way.”
Visually the University Quarter will be a stunning centrepiece for education as well as a vibrant business and learning community focal point. Plans include:
Stoke-on-Trent College will remain on its current site at Cauldon and be redeveloped throughout.
The Sixth Form College will relocate to Roebuck Street adjoining the University complex
The University’s College Road site will be redeveloped with new facilities, new public spaces, a boulevard linking the University to the city centre, as well as business start-up space and residential units.
Five showpiece new buildings will be shared by all three partners. A Science Centre, Sports Learning Facility, Performing Arts Centre, Media Place/Creative Village and a Knowledge Hub
Proposals are also in the early stages to improve the quality of life for local residents and a major consultation exercise is about to get underway to engage with residents, businesses, community groups and organisations active within the South Shelton area.
It’s also hoped to attract new commercial and business spin-offs in the University Quarter itself and surrounding parts of the City – all eager to cash in on what should be a booming knowledge economy.
The UniQ development is seen as the perfect accompaniment to the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership master plan which incorporates a new business district, new shopping centres and major residential redevelopment carried out with RENEW North Staffordshire.
Explains Paul Richards: “We have always thought we have potential to make a big difference, we have fantastic staff and great confidence in our students and graduates. They can make a difference to the community – starting their own businesses and helping transform the fortunes of existing businesses.
The UniQ leaders recognise that one of the most important elements of the entire scheme is consultation to ensure it meets the needs of local industry.
“We want to work with businesses – the message is come and talk to us about how we can do that – we want to make a difference to your business. “In terms of facilities we will be jumping a generation and we are taking this opportunity to review our curriculum to make sure the linkage is there between school, college, work, those thinking about career changes and the challenges of the new economy. There’ll be a curriculum fit for purpose and aligned in a unique way.”
“There will be the capacity for businesses to develop their workforce – it’s not just about new graduates – there will be resources to help product development and we want to invest at every level, right up to senior management training. If you’re a business tell us how we can help you, tell us what you’d like to see and what you think of the proposals.”
Meanwhile UniQ community partner Sanctuary Housing is planning public meetings to ensure anyone living working or providing services in the South Shelton area has the opportunity to be fully involved in discussions about their home, street and neighbourhood. First in line for redevelopment under the UniQ banner – with work getting under way next autumn – is the Sixth Form College’s new state-of-the-art building which will begin to take shape at the junction of Roebuck Street and Leek Road, this flagship project is scheduled for completion by autumn 2010. This will be followed by the redevelopment of Stoke on Trent College’s Cauldon site which will be continuing current work to transform this campus.
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