GD44 – South Devon College Hi Tech Centre

High quality new build facility providing higher level tech skills, supporting a significant number of local businesses.

The project has been developed in consultation with over 40 local businesses of all sizes. The Centre will provide individuals with the skills that employers need to support their growth in a range of important local Hi-Tech businesses such as; electronics, lasers, fibre, satellite and communications, aerospace, marine, medical and data analysis ‘Big Data’. The offer will also extend to creative industries including gaming, app design, digital design, film and digital media, smart clothing and textiles and many others.

Based at the Vantage Point campus in Paignton, the new purpose-built facility will be innovative in its design and use, and opened to students in September 2019.

Growth Deal Funding: £8.13m

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    David Ralph

    Chief Executive

    David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

    Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

    David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.