Archive for category: The Knowledge Quarter

In a dynamic roundtable at City of Liverpool College, business leaders, educators, and policymakers – including KQ Liverpool’s Inclusive Innovation Officer, Rachel Newman – confronted the region’s most pressing challenge: building a workforce capable of driving Liverpool’s green economic transformation.

Neil Borg-Olivier, Vice Principal for Curriculum Development, set the tone immediately. “Our responsibility is to clearly understand skills priorities and ensure our curriculum is agile enough to respond to rapidly changing industry needs,” he explained. This wasn’t just educational rhetoric, but a strategic commitment to bridging the gap between training and industry demand.

Matt Breakwell from Kimpton, a mechanical and electrical engineering business based in Bromborough, delivered the most passionate intervention. “Employers are sitting in pubs complaining about young people not wanting to work, when we’ve got brilliant students desperate for opportunities,” he argued. His company’s approach demonstrates what’s possible – taking on seven apprentices last year in a 100-person business, with a commitment to growing talent pipelines.

James Cannon from Enspec Power highlighted the critical skills shortage in specialised sectors. “When recruiting senior Power Systems Engineers, 9 out of 10 candidates are from India, Iran, or Pakistan,” he revealed, underlining the urgent need for local talent development.

Councillor Marion Atkinson brought a strategic perspective. “Every conversation with investors starts with skills,” she noted, showing that Liverpool’s economic attractiveness hinges on its workforce capabilities. She also raised a crucial point about diversity, challenging the room to track how many women trained in technical roles actually remain in these careers long-term.

Lisa Cooke from certification business MCS shared an inspiring alternative model. Her organisation has grown from one to 70 employees, with 61% female representation in a traditionally male-dominated renewable technologies sector. “We focus on core behaviors and appetite for learning,” she explained, “not just academic qualifications.”

Jane Gaston from Net Zero North West provided crucial context about the region’s industrial transformation. “We’re not abandoning traditional industries,” she stressed, “but supporting their transition through a coordinated skills approach.”

The discussion revealed complex challenges. Geoff Wainwright from Impact Data Metrics highlighted the massive financial challenge of retrofitting homes to meet net-zero standards – estimating a potential an enormous investment will be needed.

Chris Capes from Peel Waters emphasised the need for a broader skill base. “It’s not just about green jobs,” he argued, “but creating clear career progression pathways that excite and retain talent.”

Colin Salmon from the college was unequivocal about the long-term vision. “This is a generations’ work,” he said, referencing the 2050 net-zero target. “We need immediate solutions, but also a strategic, long-term approach to talent development.”

Rachel Newman from the Knowledge Quarter highlighted the critical role of early intervention.

“We’re working to excite children from primary schools about careers in Liverpool, not London,”

she explained, demonstrating the importance of inspiring future talent early.

The roundtable’s consensus was clear: Liverpool’s economic future depends on breaking down institutional silos, creating transparent career pathways, and fundamentally changing how technical and green careers are perceived and promoted.

As Matt Breakwell succinctly put it: “We need to stop being so British about discussing careers. Talk about the money, talk about the opportunities, and make engineering sexy.”

With ambitious targets, a collaborative spirit, and a commitment to innovation, Liverpool is positioning itself as a leader in the green skills revolution.

At Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool), we are committed to bridging the gap between education and industry to prepare the next generation for new innovative opportunities. Recently, as part of our KQ Future Innovators Programme, we had the pleasure of engaging with the talented Computer Science students at Ofsted Outstanding Carmel College on two separate visits, both focusing on exploring careers innovation.

On the first visit, the students explored cutting-edge facilities, including the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Materials Innovation Factory, LJMU Astrophysics Research Institute and the Digital Innovation Facility. This initial engagement with Carmel College was truly inspiring and brought to light an exciting yet delicate topic, Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

While AI is revolutionising and upskilling industries globally, the students faced a unique challenge. AI tools are restricted under examination and qualification rules to ensure academic integrity is maintained. The college’s mission aims to be an academic centre of excellence for all. During the visit it presented an intriguing challenge for our discussions. Students were understandably cautious about openly discussing their experience and potential of AI, reflecting their academic environment and the rapidly evolving technological landscape. However, as the students were studying Computer Science, AI would certainly be a tool they are likely to need to use in their future careers!

To address this, the KQ Liverpool team were determined to give them an oversight of careers with AI, therefore when planning the second visit we collaborated with Clixels, a dynamic tech company based in our innovation district who is making waves in the AI sector. Clixels Co-founders, Andy Pink and Serge Patrick-Hessleton, led a session aimed to inspire and educate students on the appropriate uses of AI and the diverse career paths it unlocks. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, the students were introduced to ethical considerations, creative applications, and the vast potential of AI in shaping their future careers.

Building on this engagement, we are thrilled to share that Clixels Co-founder and Carmel College alumni, Andy Pink, is continuing to support the College. With his industry expertise and passion for giving back to the college, Andy is now helping to actively shape the computer science curriculum to ensure it aligns with real-world demands, as well as developing an AI tool to help students with their examination revision. His involvement marks a significant step towards bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry readiness, empowering students to thrive in a technology-driven world.

The journey with Carmel College also highlights the importance of collaboration between education and industry. By fostering dialogue, breaking down barriers, and integrating practical insights into academic frameworks, we can equip students with the skills and confidence they need to navigate the future.

Through our recently released 2040 Vision, we look forward to continuing our mission of inspiring young minds and shaping a workforce ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, by creating a place that is both inclusive and inspirational for generations to come. 

If you would like to take part in the KQ Future Innovators Programme, please contact: emily@kqliverpool.co.uk

As 2024 draws to a close (and the last of the Christmas crackers are being pulled), we’ve taken a moment to sit back and reflect on the scale and impact of our activities this year.

It’s been rewarding to have welcomed a record number of school and college students into our Innovation District during 2024, through KQ Futures, as well as ensuring we inspire and raise career aspirations in young children right across the city region thanks to The Animates project.

Expanding our reach hasn’t ended there, having hosted several international business and public sector delegations, speaking at a number of high profile conferences and relaunching our own thought leadership event series.

All of this wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing support and collaboration from our fantastic Partners, Stakeholders and the wider community. Our unique mix of like-minded cultural and commercial organisations, academics, clinicians and scientists, has created a world-leading innovation district greater than the sum of its parts, and has resulted in a place in which the next generation of innovators know they can thrive. 

Here’s to a 2025 full of new knowledge, creative culture and world leading innovation!

Primary schools across the Liverpool City Region have begun to receive copies of a brand new book which aims to inspire the next generation of local innovators.

The Animates : Learning in Liverpool tells the story of six animal friends who crash land from space in the Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) innovation district and must use science and technology to help them repair their ship and return home.

Written by local author Natalie Reeves-Billing, it has been specially commissioned by KQ Liverpool in partnership with Connected Places Catapult and is part of a major focus on inspiring and training the next generation of innovators by helping young people to understand the many innovation careers that exist in their home city.

Having been tracked by Liverpool John Moores University’s robotic telescope on their descent to Earth, The Animates are then guided on their journey around KQ Liverpool by robotic dog Splodge from the Manufacturing Technology Centre at Liverpool Science Park. Their adventure takes in sites such as the Centre for Snakebite Research at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Materials Innovation Factory at University of Liverpool. 

More than 5,000 books will be delivered to schools over the coming weeks, accompanied by bespoke, localised lesson plans which are connected to the curriculum and aim to help teachers expand on the material in classrooms. 

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of KQ Liverpool, said: “As we work to build a stronger city region economy, based on our strengths in health and life sciences, materials chemistry, advanced manufacturing and digital and creative industries, it’s essential that we engage local young people and help them to understand the various careers that are right on their doorstep.

“Knowledge Quarter Liverpool is home to the brightest minds conducting world-class research and making global discoveries. Their work continues to help expand the scope of our innovation district and we want to ensure that people who live here have a chance to become part of that journey and benefit from its successes for their own families.

“Our new Animates book reflects a shared commitment among all our partners to achieve that ambition of inclusive innovation. It’s a really fun way of showcasing what happens in KQ Liverpool and the feedback from children, teachers and parents has been fantastic.”

KQ Liverpool is set to expand its groundbreaking inclusive innovation skills and outreach activity over the next five years following £1.13m of Innovation Zone funding from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, while the rollout of the new Animates book has been supported by the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub, CBRE UK, Lloyds Banking Group, Keir, Morgan Sindall and Sciontec.

Mayor Steve Rotheram was on hand to deliver the first copy of the book to Neil Verdin, headteacher at Pleasant Street Primary School. 

He said: “The Liverpool City Region is at the cutting-edge of innovation, particularly in Health and Life Sciences, materials science, and emerging technologies like AI. With growing strengths in net-zero and maritime innovation, we’re cementing our reputation as a hub of creativity, progress, and opportunity.

“Transformative initiatives like our Life Sciences Innovation Zone—set to unlock £800 million in public and private investment—and our Freeport, are laying the foundations for an economy that works for everyone and is built to thrive in the future. 

“These developments are driving growth, creating high-quality jobs, and opening doors to exciting opportunities across the region.

“Inspiring the next generation is crucial to building on this momentum. That’s why, through our Careers Hub, we’ve helped provide Natalie’s brilliant new book, The Animates, to primary schools across the region. This fantastic story will spark children’s imaginations and encourage them to dream big—seeing themselves as future innovators in science, technology, and beyond.”