New qualifications have been created to address a shortage of skilled workers in the medtech field.
Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) aim to help West Midlands residents access high-demand roles, including roles involving AI-powered health tech.
Colleges, private training organisations and universities are expected to offer the new qualifications.
The qualifications were created through collaboration between the West Midlands Combined Authority, Skills England, education company Pearson, and various employers.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said: “We’ve got the UK’s largest MedTech cluster, plus even more high-quality jobs coming to Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, so it’s essential that we ensure local people can gain the skills they need to work in this sector, and the opportunities to get a foot in the door.”
According to the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI), the sector will require approximately 70,000 additional positions by 2035 to meet demand, plus 75,000 replacement workers for those leaving the field.
Over 14,000 people in the UK currently work in the sector, with the West Midlands hosting innovation centers such as Birmingham Health Innovation Campus, Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, West Midlands Health-Tech Accelerator and Arden Cross – a major development surrounding the HS2 Interchange Station in partnership with the University of Warwick.
Funding from the West Midlands Investment Zone is supporting the pilot programme for the new qualifications.
Phil Smith, chair of Skills England, described MedTech as “the future.”
He added: “Filling skills gaps for this fast-growing sector, through these new qualifications, will be a really practical way of supporting the NHS through boosting productivity.
“It’s a fantastic example of how national and regional government can work with employers and the education sector to rapidly respond to skills needs in growth sectors.”
