Colleges as Anchors in their Space

but in a revitalised context. He too established a maritime college

with a strong industry identity. It is important for him that the

college lecturers are also practitioners that can demonstrate

competence, the credibility that they have actively worked on

boats. This is true of all practical skill areas taught across the

colleges in this study, where professional and technical learning is

delivered by vocational experts, which helps maintain a local or

regional economic network of practice where those in teaching,

and those in industry, interact and maintain high-order skills

within their specialisms. Debra Gray likewise is ambitious for

Grimsby. She sees a college-specific role in the regeneration of

her particular region. One major strand of this strategy has been

the introduction of a substantial higher education provision

within a university centre. Following a long period of decline,

the town of Grimsby continues to have a very low self-image.22

Progression to university was difficult, Grimsby being a 'cold spot'

in terms of higher education provision, with problems of access

particularly for part-time students with family responsibilities.

Grimsby Institute is, therefore, systematically addressing

this learning need. It now has 1,500 undergraduates enrolled

on programmes which meet regional skills needs. These HE

students have a distinct profile, with an average age of 30, a high

proportion of whom are carers, women and returning students.

Over 60 per cent come from widening participation areas.

They are preparing for careers in nursing, television, the creative

industries, media, games and high-level freelance work or selfemployment.

This higher education strategy has been pivotal in

providing the mid- and high-level skills that the regional Grimsby

economy needs to recover from a series of economic blows. It

has safeguarded vital infrastructural skills as required by the large

health and care sector and start-up skills for the newly emerging

high-tech sector. She is also alert to the impending collapse in

the standards expected by some universities and how this might

undermine her strategy. She fears that some students might be

tempted away from demanding, high-skill technical courses into

(Accessed 8 March 2019)

Index