Two male students wearing safety goggles work together on a machine in a workshop.

We deliver world-class
technical education
and training

We are a national network of experienced education providers and leading industry employers, working together to provide the best possible technical education and training.

Find an IoT

SUPPORTING PRODUCTIVITY

Each Institute of Technology focuses on specialist areas such as engineering, high-value manufacturing, cloud networking and healthcare. With employers as core partners and members of our governing bodies, we address skills gaps today and build a pipeline of talent for the future.

Increasing Opportunity

IoTs deliver high-quality training and education across a range of courses, specialising in Higher Technical Qualifications, professional training and higher apprenticeships. We widen access to higher education through flexible, affordable qualifications for adults of all ages and help address the lack of diversity in parts of the STEM workforce.

Serving Communities

Rooted within our regions, we work with local employers, business organisations, schools and community groups to create more career opportunities for local people. As a network, we share best practice and collaborate with employers across the country.

A student wearing safety goggles uses manufacturing equipment, observed by a teacher.

“Industry has to provide a mirror to education to shake things up and make sure the skills being taught are the most relevant to what we need. We're all capable of becoming insular and just focusing on our own business needs, but this is a way we can shape the talent pool and create the workers we all need now and in the future.”

Maria Rogers,
Learning & Development Manager, Leyland Trucks

Find out more

Our executive team

Headshot of Rosa Wells

CHAIR

Rosa Wells
Deputy Vice-Chancellor – University College Birmingham

Rosa led Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology (GBSIoT) for nearly five years and is now Deputy Vice-Chancellor at University College Birmingham and Director of GBSIoT’s Board of Directors. She is a highly experienced engineer who has dedicated her career to education and training and is passionate about enabling students to succeed in STEM.

Headshot of Sharon Grant

VICE-CHAIR

Sharon Grant
Director – North East Institute of Technology

Sharon has a background as a research chemist as well as in STEM education and consulting. She has been Director of North East Institute of Technology since 2021. Sharon is passionate about building a work-ready talent pipeline in the North East, and driving the transition to green energy and net zero.

Headshot of Claire Arbery

VICE-CHAIR

Claire Arbery
Head of Workforce Transformation Programmes – National Composites Centre

Claire led the West of England Institute of Technology (WEIoT) from 2019 - 2025. She is now Head of Workforce Transformation Programmes at the National Composites Centre, one of WEIoT’s anchor employer partners. She has also managed significant apprenticeship provision, STEM engagement activities, and adult skills and commercial training.

Headshot of Georgina Barnard

VICE-CHAIR

Georgina Barnard
Vice Principal – Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology

Georgina has led Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology since 2023. Georgina worked in industry, primarily in engineering and manufacturing, for many years, then as a self-employed Business Consultant, before moving into education. She is passionate about ensuring local communities have access to life-enhancing opportunities through high quality technical education.

Contact us

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Supported by

The Department
for Education

A key Government manifesto commitment, Institutes of Technology were established by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver world-class higher technical education - helping to increase the supply of high-skilled technicians across key industries that our economy needs. 

They are a key component of the 2020 Skills for Jobs White Paper which outlines how the Government plans to provide the technical education and training needed to fill skills gaps, boost economic recovery, increase productivity and secure jobs in the future.  

Each IoT is awarded a license by DfE that outlines its role and objectives and is signed by all partners in the IoT. The Network has access to a £300 million capital funding pot to create state-of-the-art industry-standard facilities and infrastructure in which to deliver this learning. The DfE’s ongoing role is to provide support and challenge to ensure the successful delivery of their proposals in line with programme policy objectives. Further information can be found on gov.uk. 

The Gatsby
Foundation

The National Network of Institutes of Technology is supported by the Gatsby Foundation as part of its work to help transform technical education in England. Gatsby sees IoTs as playing a crucial role in strengthening higher technical education, supporting innovation diffusion, developing new approaches to technical teaching and learning, and exemplifying positive partnerships between further education colleges and universities. This website is funded and managed by Gatsby to showcase the combined scale and scope of the IoT Network and to help prospective learners and employers find and connect with their local IoT or work with the Network.

To read more about Gatsby’s work in Education, please visit: www.gatsby.org.uk/education

Students engaged in a discussion while working on computers in a classroom setting.

FIND AN IOT

Explore our national network of IoT hubs and education partners.