The South West Composites Gateway Project aims to support the competitiveness of the composites industry in the region by building expertise in composite design, manufacture, assembly and repair. It will create a sustainable partnership between further and higher education providers to transfer knowledge to businesses and help them capitalize on opportunities in advanced engineering using composite materials. The project will establish a collaborative FE/HE network and delivery mechanism to meet business needs for composite technology support services through the Gateway, which will serve as a single point of access for industry and providers.

1. South West Composites Gateway

2. The SW Composite Gateway Project
- a new project designed to
Support the global competitiveness of
the south west composites industry by
Supporting
Drawing on the rich
businesses to
diversity of existing Creating innovative
mechanisms to capitalise on the
expertise in the
provide business opportunities
region to build
solutions from a afforded by the
capacity in
sustainable application of
composite design,
manufacture, partnership of FE composite materials
in advanced
assembly and repair and HE providers
engineering

3. South West Composites Gate Project
Overview
ERDF/RDA Funded Project. City of Bristol College is the grant recipient and lead provider
Responding to signal demand
Building a sustainable network of composites material/process training providers, and a gateway
for Industry and providers
Transfer of FE/HE Knowledge to Businesses through facilitating the adoption by SMEs of specialist
technology in innovation in the application of composite materials in a number of established and
emerging advanced engineering industries

4. South West Composites Gateway
Project
Aims
 Extract composite materials expertise from industry and within FE/HE bought in
where necessary
 Facilitate knowledge transfer of this expertise, as wide as possible throughout the
network
 Grow this expertise in composites across all areas of Engineering/Manufacturing, not
just Aerospace
 Provide accredited qualifications to Industry, and support to access funding
 Improve capability of FE organisations to deliver acceptable, credible qualifications
 Provide a single point Gateway, Hub for Industry & Providers to access training &
technical support
 Extend the network across the whole South West

5. South West Composites Gateway Project
City of Bristol College
Project Management of
Regional Provider Network Development
FE Based Service Industrial
Delivery Network:
FE / HE Capacity Capability FE / HE
Unit-Based •Knowledge •Design NCC, KTP &
Award
Building •Resources Research
•Manufacture
Structure FE / HE •Curriculum •Test Activity
•Facilities •Repair
South West Composites Gateway
Employer Network – WEAF / Business link
•Skills / Support Demand Signal
•Product Marketing & Dissemination
Industrial
Need and Support:
•Skills
•Knowledge
•Technology
•Supply Chains

6. South West Composites Gateway
– Project Activities
Establish
Meeting business needs for
collaborative FE / composite technology support
HE network and services
delivery mechanism
Develop strongly
‘branded’ Gateway Informed response – ‘One Stop
– virtual and Shop’ with necessary links
physical location
Support for Access to composites expertise,
network partners to effective engagement models
develop delivery Collaborative, multiple source
capacity solutions
Engage with businesses and provide
Project Planned
business assists to improve
Outputs performance

7. South West Composites Gateway
– Project Services
The Gateway provides a hub that
Knowledge SMEs(Businesses) can tap into,
helping businesses to take up and
Exchange exploit new technology
From analysing specific needs to
Consultancy identifying relevant support
opportunities, the focus is on improving
the performance of businesses
Technology Business can learn new techniques
through flexible access to high quality
solutions facilities and workshops
Training and Gateway partners offer training courses
that lead to qualifications and improved
qualifications skills and knowledge

8. South West Composites Gateway
•Technology Services for Innovation
–Enabled by
know-how know-who