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Business Support
We will provide business support to local businesses through our Innovation and growth support and by broadening the access to grants and funding available locally and nationally.
The Centre for Innovation and Future Skills (CIFS) at NMITE is an indispensable aspect of the future of Herefordshire’s business ecosystem. With a focus on the skills of the future and providing much-needed business and innovation support for the region, CIFS plans to work with both businesses and individuals in upskilling, reskilling and innovation to prepare Herefordshire for the future of work.
Backed by over £2 million in capital funding from the Government’s Towns Fund, the CIFS will be located at our Blackfriars campus in the heart of Hereford.
It’s a core element of the broader Stronger Hereford programme – an exciting initiative firmly focused on making Hereford a better place to live, learn, work and visit.
The Centre for Innovation and Future Skills (CIFS) Innovation Programme in partnership with Innovate UK.
Our Innovation Programme aims to provide valuable support and guidance to businesses to develop their ideas and grow their businesses nationally and internationally.
Applications are now open.
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The NMITE Centre for Innovation and Future Skills facilitates innovation incubation and propagation through the collaboration of key stakeholders. The Centre also fosters an environment for upskilling and re-skilling the workforce in readiness for the required skills to tackle future global challenges.
Centre for Innovation and Future Skills Pillars
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Gateway
CIFS will be a gateway for information, connecting knowledge and resources to local businesses and individuals.
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Research and Knowledge Exchange
We will bridge the gap between businesses and academia through various partnerships for research and knowledge exchange to increase innovation capabilities within Herefordshire region.
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Upskilling and Reskilling
We will offer a range of upskilling and reskilling opportunities including short courses, training programmes, CPD and bespoke learning opportunities for businesses.
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Thought Leadership
We will facilitate thought leadership on topics that are relevant to local businesses and individuals through conferences, events and academic reports.
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Other Opportunities
We are open to new opportunities to collaborate and welcome a conversation even if it's not listed here. If you think we could help in anyway, please get in touch!
Transforming social mobility
Herefordshire is a cold spot in the social mobility index, with wages and qualification levels below the national average.
Small businesses feel hampered by the lack of appropriate skills, and vacancies are hard to fill. Industry 4.0 - the fourth and current industrial revolution characterised by smart tech, data and automation - means this will become even more challenging.
That’s why we’re taking action now, addressing this chronic skills shortage - embedding cutting-edge capabilities, opening up new perspectives and preparing Herefordshire’s professionals to thrive in this fast-evolving world.
If you're keen to get involved as a business or individual, or to discover more, simply get in touch.
Located in the centre of Hereford city
The CIFS will be purposely built, based at our Blackfriars campus in the heart of Hereford city - providing easy access for all.
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Get in touch
Please contact the CIFS team directly at futureskills@nmite.ac.uk, we would love to hear from you.
NMITE is a pioneering new model of skills-based education, which has the potential to both regenerate Herefordshire and the Marches, and to provide a template for new specialist HE institutions across the UK.
NMITE CPD
Develop the skills you need to meet industry’s most pressing challenges, with our practical engineering, manufacturing, enterprise and leadership training. Be taught by savvy industry professionals, using cutting-edge technologies – to grow your business and enhance your career.
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