MPs in Bury have welcomed the announcement that Bury College has been granted a new status as an Institute of Technology.

College bosses have joined with the University of Salford and fellow colleges in Tameside and Wigan and Leigh as part of the bid to promote higher level technical qualifications.

Industry leaders including GCHQ, Laing O’Rourke, Siemens and TalkTalk are supporting the collabration.

The combined specialisms on offer cover everything from construction, planning and the built environment, to engineering and manufacturing technologies, health, public service and care and information and communication technology.

Under a new government scheme, the institutes are designed to forge a partnership between employers and education, so students can graduate with practical skills they can bring to the local economy.

Bury North MP James Daly said: “I’ve been campaigning and lobbying ministers to grant Bury College, with the University of Salford, Institute of Technology status and this now will ensure students in Bury can get the skills and education, supported by outstanding employer partners, to enter and excel in a fast-moving, emerging jobs market.”

Bury South MP Christian Wakeford told the Bury Times he had also been lobbying Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi in support of the Bury College bid.

He said: "Technical education is the vanguard of the government’s 'levelling up' agenda and this decision will bring huge benefits to our borough through the partnership with Bury College.

“This new institute will deliver the higher technical qualifications in health, engineering, manufacturing and digital technology, preparing our young people for the 21st century British economy.”

The college has already taken the decision to be in the vanguard of the new 'T' Level qualifications, which are geared towards more practical and technology-driven learning.

Mr Zahawi added: "Ensuring everyone is given the opportunity to reach their full potential, no matter their age or life stage, is a vital part of our mission to level up this country."

Nine such institutes are being created up and down the country.