Through working in partnership, the funding will support student bursaries, specialist training and innovation projects, helping to strengthen links between education and employers across the county, including opportunities linked to Herefordshire’s growing defence and cyber sector, and wider advanced manufacturing and engineering businesses.

The investment comes as employers across the county continue to report demand for higher-level technical and engineering skills, particularly in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, defence and digital technologies.

NMITE works closely with local and national employers to develop practical, industry-focused higher education and training programmes designed to meet these skills needs. This includes their new innovative Autonomous Robotics degree, the first of its kind in the UK.

NMITE and Herefordshire Council have worked in partnership over recent years on a range of skills and innovation initiatives, helping local people access new opportunities while strengthening the county’s skills base. This investment represents the next phase of our long-term strategic partnership, helping to create the conditions for growth that will deliver better-paid jobs for local people.

The package includes:

• Six £10,000 bursaries for Herefordshire residents studying at NMITE.

• Funding for places on a new robotics training programme.

• Support for NMITE to attend defence sector conferences over the next year.

• Sponsorship for a joint Ministry of Defence procurement event.

• Support for manufacturing optimisation training.

• £25,000 for NMITE’s Innovation Programme.

The bursaries will be available to students on courses that support local skills needs, including engineering and construction management.

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, Councillor Graham Biggs, said:

“This investment is about creating opportunities for local people and helping businesses access the skills they need to create more better paid jobs.

“NMITE is playing an increasingly important role in Herefordshire’s economy, working with employers, supporting innovation and helping to develop the next generation of engineers and technical specialists.

“This funding builds on our long-term strategic partnership with NMITE and our shared ambition to ensure local people can access the skills, training and opportunities needed by the industries that will drive Herefordshire’s future growth.

“By investing in local talent, we are investing in the future prosperity of our county and helping ensure that people in Herefordshire can benefit from opportunities in growing sectors such as defence, cyber and advanced manufacturing.”

NMITE recently announced that it is a fully accelerated institution with its degrees in Integrated Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Autonomous Robotics taking three years for an MEng and two years for a BEng. NMITE’s popular Construction Management BSc (Hons) degree offers students the opportunity to become a work-ready, modern construction professional in just two years. 

For a student enrolling in September 2026 who receives one of these bursaries, NMITE describes it as a ‘life changing opportunity for a future, rewarding career in the built environment’. 

James Newby, President and Chief Executive of NMITE, said:

“We are incredibly grateful for the Council’s support. The talent is already here in Herefordshire; together, we are creating the opportunities to match it. These bursaries, combined with NMITE’s accelerated two-year degrees, mean local people can gain a high-quality degree more quickly, at lower cost and with much less debt.

“We are proud to be working with the Council and local employers to help address the skills challenges facing the county”

The partnership reflects wider work to strengthen Herefordshire’s innovation and skills, including activity at Skylon Park and other strategic employment sites, where advanced manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses are helping to drive long-term economic growth.

The bursaries will be available for students studying on all NMITE’s programmes running from September 2026 and 2027 so local people interested in benefiting from the support should contact NMITE now via its website: https://nmite.ac.uk/

The Council and NMITE will announce more details about all these initiatives in the coming weeks as they continue to work together to strengthen skills, innovation and future employment opportunities across Herefordshire.