Skills and Opportunities
A core part of this transformation programme is centred on opening up opportunities for local people and providing skills training.
We work closely with our development partners to provide opportunities for people to gain the skills and qualifications needed to be successful in obtaining jobs and careers in construction and STEM industries. By 2040 there are expected to be 8,000 new jobs in the bioscience and life sciences industry and 2,000 in advance manufacturing and engineering.
What are we doing?
We are committed to helping both young people and adults in Stevenage gain the skills needed to access good, stable jobs locally. By working with local employers and education providers, we identify the skills and experience needed and create clear learning pathways to help residents build them. This ensures training opportunities are relevant, accessible and lead to real job opportunities—giving young people, and those looking to retrain or return to work, strong prospects for a secure future right here in Stevenage.
The current focus on science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) is designed to connect young people with Stevenage’s growing STEM industries. Through initiatives like the Pioneering Young STEM Futures programme, we offer hands-on experiences that help young people explore STEM subjects, career options and local education pathways. By sparking interest early and equipping them with the right skills, we’re helping the next generation take confident steps toward meaningful careers in the local STEM sector.
While STEM remains a key focus, other industries across Stevenage are also expected to grow significantly over the next 15 years, creating new employment opportunities for local people. To prepare for this, we’re already working to understand the skills these sectors will need and to develop pathways to help residents gain the right qualifications and experience. This forward-thinking approach ensures our community will be ready to take advantage of emerging job opportunities and build secure, rewarding careers locally.
Who do we work with?
We’ve been working with local employers including Airbus, Autolus, Catapult, Fujitsu, GSK, LifeArc, MBDA, The IET, Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst and Stevenage Football Foundation. Alongside local employers, we work closely with North Herts College, The STEM Discovery Centre and the University of Hertfordshire as well as Hertfordshire Futures, Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal, Services for Young People and STEMPoint.
Benefits for the local community
By linking our skills provision with the needs of our local industries, we’re helping residents build secure and rewarding futures close to home. Creating education and training opportunities that reflect real job prospects not only equips young people and adults with the qualifications employers are looking for—it also strengthens our local economy and supports a thriving, connected community.
Working with local schools
Our regeneration programme is making Stevenage Even Better by transforming and creating a 21st Century New Town. Involving young people is a key priority, helping them to understand the opportunities that the programme offers to them.
Our School Engagement Programme aims to enthuse, engage and inspire local school children and provide them with a greater understanding of regeneration and the wide range of opportunities it presents for their future.
As Stevenage continues to enhance its reputation for Life Science and in the STEM sectors, we are working with local schools to highlight these opportunities and to enable children to get involved and have their say on the future of the town.
Through school collaboration, surveys, assemblies, tours, competitions and creative challenges, pupils of all ages can enjoy a range of fun, age-appropriate learning opportunities. If you would like further information, please email regeneration@stevenage.gov.uk
Stevenage Works
We are driving private sector investment, ensuring our town has the space to support small business development, skills and jobs. This includes the opportunity for our residents to gain experience in the construction industry. Stevenage Works is a well-established job and training hub managed by Stevenage Borough Council in partnership with a wide range of businesses. Stevenage Works raises awareness of local jobs available in local businesses for local people, providing a free recruitment service along with training courses and apprenticeships, to local people and residents of all ages and experience levels. This has been possible through working with Job Centre Plus and North Herts College together with Oaklands College, Hertfordshire Futures and TrAC (A non-profit shared apprenticeship service), along with local employers.
There are a number of ways that people can find out further information about the opportunities available to them, including through the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP). This is the premier gateway in Hertfordshire for Students, career explorers and employers to explore career opportunities and access advice and guidance on jobs, qualifications and apprenticeships via one single portal. You can find out more:
Biz4Biz, who provide business networking, marketing, advice and sustainability support for SMEs in the East of England, have recently launched a new Careers Guidance App that acts as a starting point for us all to establish the career pathway we would like to follow. Read more here:
CASE STUDY Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (HOP)
The premier gateway in Hertfordshire for Students, career explorers and employers to explore career opportunities and access advice and guidance on jobs, qualifications and apprenticeships via one single portal.
Students and career explorers can use a series of interactive tools to find out about career paths, employment opportunities, apprenticeships and work experience, skills development and professional qualifications programmes.
Employers and training providers can reach and recruit their future talent and upskill & provide progression opportunities for existing staff.
Schools can access a rich bank of Hertfordshire-specific careers resources including labour market infographics, a Virtual Employer Encounter webinar series and a range of classroom resources based on the Hertfordshire Skills Framework.
CASE STUDY Stevenage Innovation & Technology Centre (SITEC)
The Stevenage Innovation & Technology Centre (SITEC) aims to capitalise on Stevenage’s position in the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Research and Development between Oxford, Cambridge and London.
It is phase one of the broader NHC project to develop and deliver a range of new T-Level and apprenticeship qualifications in Science, Engineering, Digital and Sustainable Technologies at Levels 3-5.
It aims to raise the aspirations and skills of residents and employees by providing accessible opportunities in the key growth areas for the region, including life sciences and advanced manufacturing.
Working with industry partners ‘FourPlus, ‘LifeArc’, ‘UCL Vax Hub’, ‘Autolus’ and the ‘Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult’, SITEC Phase 1 has seen the creation of a simulation life sciences laboratory, immersive technologies space, a new digital training suite and virtual reality training capabilities in a virtual environment.
