Norwich Town Deal off to a flying start with opening of Digi-Tech Factory

The state-of-the-art building for digital skills will provide students with the latest technology and specialist training vital for business in the burgeoning digi-tech sector.

Norwich City Council was awarded a ‘Town Deal’ of £25m at the end of 2020 from the government’s Towns’ Fund to deliver eight key projects – all of which will drive regeneration alongside skills, infrastructure and jobs for the city and region.

City College Norwich, New Anglia LEP, and Norwich City Council (through the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Towns’ Fund), have collectively invested £11.4m in the Digi-Tech Factory as a direct response to this key skills priority for Norfolk and Suffolk.

In addition to Digi-Tech, Norwich Town Deal includes the development of a masterplan to steer regeneration in east Norwich, a Revolving Fund to unlock stalled brownfield sites and the creation of a Digital Hub to provide affordable office space to tech start-ups. All projects have been developed in partnership with the Norwich Vision Group, local communities, partners and public/private investors.

Leader of Norwich City Council, Cllr Alan Waters, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to financially contribute towards the new Digi-Tech Factory through our successful Town Deal bid. This incredible facility is a huge boost for our city – providing the technology, skills and teaching to ensure our residents are equipped with the skills of the future.  Huge thanks goes to all those who sit on the Town Deal board for their role in driving forward long term, inclusive economic and productivity growth in Norwich.”

Corrienne Peasgood OBE, Principal, City College Norwich, said: “The Digi-Tech Factory will play a key role in enabling us to deliver innovative, industry-standard learning, and a digital skills curriculum developed with substantial input from employers.
“It’s been brilliant seeing how the new building has been received by our lecturing staff, students, and apprentices, during the first weeks of term, and the difference this is already making to the teaching and learning of a wide range of digital skills.

Minister for Levelling Up, the Union and Constitution, Neil O’Brien, MP said: “I’m thrilled that the first completed Towns Fund project has opened in City College Norwich as the Government continues to deliver on its mission to level up all parts of the United Kingdom.

“The fantastic state-of-the-art Digi-Tech Factory will help the region prosper by providing people with the skills they need to secure jobs and drive innovation in Norwich’s fast-growing tech sector.”

Read about all Norwich Town Deal projects.