Employer Partners
The West of England Institute of Technology (WEIoT) is industry, education and research collaborating to design and deliver flexible, higher-level technical learning to equip people with the skills to fully participate in, and contribute to, economic growth driven by digital innovation and emerging technologies.
Airbus
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2019, it generated revenues of €70 billion and employed a workforce of around 135,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.
GKN
Today GKN Aerospace are truly global, with 17,000 employees in 48 manufacturing locations in 14 countries around the world. All major aircraft and engine manufacturers rely on our advanced technologies. Our aerostructures, engine systems and special products improve the performance of more than 100,000 flights every day. By working closely together with universities, knowledge institutes, suppliers and customers, we lead the industry in developing new technology to improve aircraft efficiency: lowering aircraft cost, weight and emissions.
Jisc
It’s Jisc’s aim for the UK to be the most digitally advanced education and research nation in the world. So, we support colleges and universities to deliver first-class education enhanced by the kinds of technology emerging from the fourth industrial revolution. In our sector, we call this Education 4.0 and Institutes of Technology are at the forefront of this vision, which will help prepare today’s learners for the workplace of tomorrow.
Leonardo
Leonardo is one of the UK's leading aerospace companies and one of the biggest suppliers of defence and security equipment to the UK MoD, making a significant contribution to the UK economy. Leonardo employs around 7,000 people across the UK, 67% of whom hold highly-skilled positions. As one of the UK’s largest employers of engineering apprentices, Leonardo invests £3.5 million on employee training each year.
National Composites Centre
The NCC is the UK’s world-leading composite research and development facility; where innovators come when they need to make things lighter, stronger, smarter and more sustainable. With access to 'beyond' state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, the NCC collaborates with customers to solve the most complex engineering challenges of our time.
NHS University Hospitals Bristol and Weston
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) has a workforce of over 13,000 staff, delivering over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites serving a core population of more than 500,000 people. With services from the neonatal intensive care unit to care of the elderly, we provide care to the people of Bristol, Weston and the south west from the very beginning of life to its later stages. As well as providing outstanding care, we’re committed to being seen as a beacon for outstanding education, research and innovation.
North Somerset Council
Our vision and ambition for North Somerset is for it to be a more healthy, green and prosperous place to live, work and enjoy; with access to great education and jobs. We are committed to maximising opportunities for people to achieve a work-life balance and to work and study in a place that has a successful digital economy alongside thriving arts, culture and heritage.
St Monica Trust
Established in 1920, St Monica Trust is a long standing registered charity with five sites across Bristol and North Somerset. As well as offering excellent accommodation, our retirement villages are home to specialist care homes and provide support for older people. The award winning St Monica Trust Training Team is authorised as an endorsed Skills for Care training provider, offering a wide range of courses that are open to internal colleagues and external customers.
Rolls Royce
Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver clean, safe and competitive solutions to meet our planet’s vital power needs. Our purpose is to pioneer the power that matters to connect, power and protect society.
IoT case study – UWE Bristol
UWE Bristol is the Higher Education partner of the West of England Institute of Technology (WEIoT). Following the award of the license, the WEIoT received capital funding from the Department of Education. This was shared amongst the education partners. Of the £2m awarded to the University £1m was used to develop a new Digital Engineering Gallery facility. The aim was to improve digital engineering skills locally and help train engineers using the ‘technologies of tomorrow’.
Based in the School of Engineering, the new Digital Engineering Gallery is used by students from UWE Bristol, University of Bristol, and Weston College. It is also used by primary and secondary schools in outreach programmes, by local businesses for CPD, boot camps and other events.
The Igloo CAVE is at the centre of the Digital Engineering Gallery. It has proven to be a valuable tool for students, staff, and external users in the Southwest. It is currently being used across various engineering disciplines to view multiple types of content, fulfilling the Digital Engineering Gallery’s commitment to teaching, outreach, and research.
As part of UWE Bristol’s outreach programme, the Digital Engineering Gallery team has been running continual professional development (CPD) courses for local businesses and organisations, including the Ministry of Defence, NHS, GKN Aerospace, Airbus and Rolls-Royce. These courses introduce industry experts to the latest simulation tools and show companies and organisations how they can benefit by saving time and money.
Quote
“As an advocate for the transformative power of digital technologies in engineering education and industry, I am immensely proud of the strides we've made with the Digital Engineering Gallery at UWE Bristol. The facility is not just a hub for learning and innovation; it's a beacon of collaboration between academia and industry. By integrating tools like the Igloo CAVE, we're not only equipping our students with the 'technologies of tomorrow' but also empowering local businesses and organisations through our CPD courses to harness the potential of digital simulation. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to driving digital proficiency within the region, ultimately contributing to a robust, future-ready engineering workforce.”
Dr Zeyad Al-Shibaany
Associate Professor in Digital Manufacturing, UWE Bristol
