Talking Investment: ‘Investing in skills, partnerships and the future of construction’

For cities like Derby to realise their regeneration schemes, they need a skilled workforce to help deliver them. As a newly designated Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC), Derby College Group is at the centre of creating that workforce of the future. Here, in her own words, Carol Dixon, director of employer partnerships at DCG, explains how it is doing this by investing in skills, partnerships and the future of the industry.

Derby is a city built on innovation and industry.

To keep that spirit alive, it needs a steady supply of skilled, work-ready people who can power growth across priority sectors such as construction, technology and green industries.

At Derby College Group, that challenge is not just recognised, it is being actively addressed through major investment in facilities, deep collaboration with employers and the prestigious designation as a Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC).

This recognition, awarded to just nine institutions nationwide, sees DCG named as the regional lead for the East Midlands.

It is both a milestone and a springboard, acknowledging the college’s outstanding work to date and creating new opportunities to influence how construction skills are shaped and delivered across the region.

Supporting over 1,000 learners on construction programmes and home to the largest number of construction apprentices in the East Midlands, DCG is already a driving force in preparing young people and adults for rewarding, high-demand careers.

Becoming a CTEC builds on that strength. It means the Department for Education has recognised DCG as a national leader in delivering high-quality, industry-relevant training.

As the East Midlands’ hub, the college will coordinate training specialisms, share best practice, and work with employers to ensure learners gain advanced technical, green and digital skills, the very skills needed to deliver thousands of new homes, infrastructure projects and sustainable workplaces across the region.

As Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, put it: “Our ambition for thousands of new homes, buildings and infrastructure means we need the skills in our region to deliver them.

“I am delighted that our young people will now be able to access the best training and advanced skills to help us grow our region and give them well-paid and decent long-term jobs.”

Every year DCG supports more than 13,500 students, across four colleges: The Roundhouse, Broomfield Hall, The Joseph Wright Centre and The Community College, Ilkeston.

In addition, specialist hubs such as the Hudson and Johnson Buildings provide sector-specific training in construction and routes to employment.

Students come from every walk of life: 36% are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, 35% are classed as disadvantaged, and nearly a third have special educational needs or disabilities.

The college also supports learners with mental ill health (12%) and those with care experience (5%).

This breadth underlines DCG’s role as a truly inclusive institution, ensuring that education and opportunity are accessible to all.

To underpin this, DCG invests significantly in facilities. In the current academic year alone, more than £68 million of public funding will be spent on improving life chances and employment prospects for local residents.

From upgraded digital learning suites to industry-standard workshops, the focus is on mirroring real workplaces so that students gain the confidence and competence to thrive in employment.

What truly sets DCG apart is its approach to partnership. The college works hand-in-hand with hundreds of employers, from SMEs to major names such as Rolls-Royce, Bowmer + Kirkland and Vaillant Group.

Together they co-design curriculum, provide placements, and ensure the skills pipeline stays closely aligned to business needs.

By working hand-in-hand with employers, we make sure our curriculum stays relevant and our students are prepared for the real world of work.

Businesses benefit from a pipeline of skilled, motivated people, and learners gain the confidence and opportunities they need to succeed.

These partnerships go beyond filling vacancies. They are about embedding sustainability, driving digital innovation, supporting green industries and shaping the future workforce with the skills that will keep Derby and the East Midlands at the forefront of diverse growth sectors, including technology, advanced manufacturing and construction.

The new CTEC status, combined with ongoing investment in facilities and employer collaboration, underlines DCG’s central role in Derby’s economic future.

It positions the college as a catalyst: raising aspirations for learners, providing businesses with the talent they need, and supporting the city’s ambitions to be a hub of innovation, advanced technology and sustainable growth.

This award will help us meet the growing needs of the industry and create even more pathways for young people and adults to enter rewarding, high-demand careers.

For Derby, the message is clear: investing in skills is investing in the city’s future.

With DCG leading the way, the region has a powerful partner in ensuring that growth is built on strong foundations – and that the next generation is ready to shape and benefit from the opportunities ahead.