Knowledge Quarter Liverpool secures £1.13m from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to fund a programme to inspire the next generation of high-tech workers. Tony McDonough reports
Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) will embark on a five-year programme to prepare children and young people for “the high-tech jobs of the future”.
It has secured £1.13m from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to widen its KQ Futures Programme. The cash has come from money set aside for the £160m Liverpool City Region Innovation Zone.
KQ Futures aims to inspire students from primary school up to 18 years old and help them to benefit from the high-paid jobs the Innovation Zone will bring.
It will raise aspirations and help tackle a skills shortage in the life sciences sector, removing barriers to future roles in innovative industries and creating new paid internships and workplace experiences in science and technology.
Andrew Lewis, chair of KQ Liverpool, said: “Enhancing skills will be fundamental to Liverpool city region’s long-term success, and we want to ensure access to innovation opportunities is as inclusive as possible.
“By connecting local students to the innovations taking place in KQ Liverpool and across the city region, we can equip them to secure a wide range of well-paid local jobs.
“We have already welcomed hundreds of local young people to KQ Liverpool and we are delighted to now have the opportunity to scale up those efforts and deliver a series of new activities which inspire a new generation.”
KQ Futures Programme is one of 20 projects being developed in the first phase of the city region’s 10-year, £160m Life Sciences Innovation Zone.
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This new investment will scale up Knowledge Quarter Liverpool’s existing skills and outreach activity to reach students across the city region.
Students will learn about the types of innovation happening in the region and the potential career pathways into sectors such as health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing and digital and creative.
KQ Liverpool is a partnership bringing together the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool City Council, the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Bruntwood SciTech.
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: “Our economy is being revolutionised by innovation – particularly in sectors like health and life sciences, which is why it’s an incredibly exciting time to be in Liverpool city region.
“We’re standing at the forefront of a transformative period where innovation and sustainability converge, and we want to inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders to be part of that challenge.”