A groundbreaking programme to prepare children and young people for the high-tech jobs of the future is set for a major expansion after securing investment through the Liverpool City Region Innovation Zone.

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has awarded Knowledge Quarter Liverpool £1.13m to widen the KQ Futures Programme over the next 5 years.

The LCR Innovation Zone Programme is expected to create 8,000 new jobs and attract up to £800m investment to the Liverpool City Region over the next 10 years.

KQ Futures aims to inspire students from primary school up to 18 years old and help them to benefit from the high-paid jobs the Innovation Zone will bring.

It will raise aspirations and help tackle a skills shortage in the life sciences sector, removing barriers to future roles in innovative industries and creating new paid internships and workplace experiences in science and technology.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region said:- “Our economy is being revolutionised by innovation – particularly in sectors like health and life sciences, which is why it’s an incredibly exciting time to be in the Liverpool City Region. We’re standing at the forefront of a transformative period where innovation and sustainability converge, and we want to inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders to be part of that challenge. By expanding this programme, we’re not only tackling skills shortages, but ensuring that every young person - regardless of background – can access these high-skilled, high-paid roles.”

KQ Futures Programme is one of 20 projects being developed in the 1st phase of the City region’s 10-year, £160m Life Sciences Innovation Zone.

The new investment will scale up Knowledge Quarter Liverpool’s existing skills and outreach activity to reach students across the City region.

Students will learn about the types of innovation happening in the region and the potential career pathways into sectors such as health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing and digital and creative.

Previous outreach work includes a Careers Insight Week, which welcomed more than 250 students from Year 7 to Sixth Form, in collaboration with LCR Careers Hub.

As part of the expansion, an animated children’s book, The Animates:- Learning in Liverpool, will be rolled out across all city region primary schools, accompanied by lessons to introduce the concept of innovation.

Andrew Lewis, chair of KQ Liverpool, said:- “Enhancing skills will be fundamental to the Liverpool City Region’s long-term success, and we want to ensure access to innovation opportunities is as inclusive as possible. By connecting local students to the innovations taking place in KQ Liverpool and across the city region, we can equip them to secure a wide range of well-paid local jobs. We have already welcomed hundreds of local young people to KQ Liverpool and we are delighted to now have the opportunity to scale up those efforts and deliver a series of new activities which inspire a new generation.”

The Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (“KQ Liverpool”) Innovation District is a partnership bringing together the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool City Council, the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Bruntwood SciTech.

The Liverpool City Region Life Sciences Innovation Zone Programme (LCR Innovation Zone Programme) is part of the Government’s national Investment Zone Programme.