The College of West Anglia (CWA) is delivering the Innovation Literacy Programme at its newly completed Green Skills Academy in Wisbech; an engaging, hands-on training course designed to support apprentices and those starting in their careers to develop creative problem-solving, collaboration and innovation skills.
The programme is being delivered in partnership with Greater Manchester colleges and Innovate UK, bringing together learners and staff from multiple institutions to share best practice, explore real world challenges and build the skills needed for a rapidly changing economy. With thirteen colleges national taking part, through interactive workshops, practical activities and group projects, participants are encouraged to think differently, work across disciplines, and develop the confidence to contribute new ideas within their organisations.
The programme is being delivered by three CWA lecturers who were trained in Greater Manchester as part of the national collaboration. This ensures that the expertise and learning from the partnership is embedded within the college, allowing CWA to deliver the programme to apprentices and employers across the region.
The training is taking place at CWA’s recently built Green Skills Academy in Wisbech, a state-of-the-art facility developed to support the growth of green and sustainable skills. The centre has been funded by Anglian Water and its Alliance partners, alongside Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) and the College of West Anglia. It provides industry standard learning environments focused on sustainability, environmental technologies, and the future infrastructure workforce.
Both the Innovation Literacy Programme and the Green Skills Academy share a common purpose: preparing learners for the future world of work by equipping them with not only technical expertise, but also the innovation mindset, adaptability and collaborative skills needed to thrive in emerging industries.
By working with Greater Manchester colleges, Innovate Uk and industry partners CWA is helping to strengthen cross college collaboration and build a future ready workforce that can support regional growth and the UK’s green transition.
Coral Grainger, GM Colleges FEIP Project Director said: “It’s fantastic to see the Innovation Literacy Programme being delivered at the College of West Anglia, particularly within the Green Skills Academy in Wisbech. As the programme scales across twelve partner colleges nationally, CWA demonstrates how innovation literacy can be embedded in real, future-focused settings. This delivery directly supports the green and sustainable skills agenda, equipping learners with the innovation mindset, adaptability and collaborative skills needed to contribute meaningfully to the UK’s green transition.”
Sarah Anstiss, Head of Apprenticeships and Work Based Learning at the College of West Anglia, said: “CWA is proud to lead on this innovative project locally and be able to offer it to our apprentices. This initiative empowers apprentices to think boldly, solve creatively, and lead with confidence -equipping them with the skills employers value most.”