Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation (DETI)
What is DETI?
The Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation (DETI) programme is investing in the future of digital engineering for our region.
The West of England is a hub for innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industries, and home to a thriving ecosystem of digital creatives and future arts industries.
However, there is a huge skills and employment gap in the UK for future engineers.

Industry partners
DETI is a strategic programme of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), delivered by the National Composites Centre, in partnership with;
- Centre for Modelling and Simulation
- Digital Catapult
- UWE Bristol
- University of Bristol
- University of Bath.
Industry partners include Airbus, GKN Aerospace, Rolls-Royce, and CFMS, with contributions from UWE Bristol, Digital Catapult and Siemens. DETI is funded by £5m from WECA, with co-investment from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and industry.
Skills development
UWE Bristol’s School of Engineering are leading the Skills Development branch of DETI, establishing an engineering engagement hub for the West of England, based at UWE Bristol's engineering building. Working in collaboration with key DETI partners and industry supporters they are delivering three programmes.
Inspire
Encouraging diversity and inclusivity, DETI Inspire engages children in primary and secondary education across the West of England, with a focus on disadvantaged areas. Using curriculum-linked engineering outreach and careers support, we are connecting children with real-life, diverse engineering role models to widen participation and aspirations for STEM careers.
DETI Inspire builds on the success of previous projects founded and launched by UWE Bristol, including Curiosity Connections – the network for inspirational primary STEM education in the West of England, and Women Like Me – a tiered mentoring project for women engineers, and has established the DETI Diversity Demonstrator - a network of high-quality diverse engineering career role models, supported by Inspire to interact with outreach events throughout the West of England.
Transform
Inspiring future generations, the DETI Transform programme plans to engage with further and higher education institutions to map and upgrade current taught provision and demonstrate how digital engineering can contribute to the sustainability goals for the West of England, leading into the next phase of clean and sustainable growth.
Innovate
To ensure the current and future workforce is digital ready, the DETI Innovate programme will examine the tools, technologies, and processes needed to rapidly accelerate engineering capabilities and identify the skills needed to embed a digital culture throughout organisations in the West of England. By undertaking a Skills Gap Analysis, DETI Innovate will map current roles within the design and manufacturing fields to digital skills, both current and future, to understand the gaps and help focus solutions.
Working with the existing engineering community DETI Innovate will ensure courses are ‘fit for purpose’ to build the workforce of the future. Working with established national and regional initiatives, short courses will be developed to enhance digital awareness and a Postgraduate conversion course for technical and non-technical graduates will equip them with the necessary digital skills to fulfil roles in a digital manufacturing workplace.
Further information
Find out more about DETI.
For further information about our DETI Skills programme contact deti@uwe.ac.uk.
You can also read about our progress on the Engineering Our Future blog.
Engineering Our Future blog
Follow our blog to keep in touch with what our current, past, and future engineers are up to and see the impact our students have in the world.
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By Nicolle Hanselmann I was lucky to be accepted into the School of Engineering’s summer internship programme. While everyone knows students are often broke (yes, money does help), my motivation came from somewhere deeper. A little background before I dive into my experience. I’m a mature student studying Mechatronics, about to begin my third year … Continue reading "Internship Reflection: Finding Purpose Beyond the Pay | CATE’s internship scheme"
Internship Reflection: Finding Purpose Beyond the Pay | CATE’s internship scheme
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“It was great to see so many young people being interested in STEM. It was also a good day for parents who are not in the STEM field as well, to see them ask questions and inspire their children was amazing!”– Sally Sin, Student Ambassador UWE Engineering did it again! Our Family Fun Day welcomed … Continue reading "Engineering Family Fun Day – A Celebration of Curiosity, Creativity, and Community"
Engineering Family Fun Day – A Celebration of Curiosity, Creativity, and Community
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On Tuesday 15 July, UWE Bristol’s Inspire Sustainability Team partnered with Ambition Lawrence Weston to deliver the Future Ambition Fair – a community event designed to connect local residents with employment, training, and support opportunities. Held at Ambition Lawrence Weston’s community hub, the fair brought together a wide range of local organisations offering advice on … Continue reading "Future Ambition Fair brings skills, support and opportunity to Lawrence Weston"
Future Ambition Fair brings skills, support and opportunity to Lawrence Weston
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On Thursday 17 July, UWE Bristol’s School of Engineering and the Bristol Repair Coalition brought together more than 30 representatives from across the region for a dynamic workshop to co-design a new Circular Economy Demonstrator for Bristol. Held at the Bristol Business School, the event convened participants from local authorities, community organisations, academia, industry, and … Continue reading "Shaping a circular future: UWE Bristol hosts collaborative workshop on new demonstrator project"
Shaping a circular future: UWE Bristol hosts collaborative workshop on new demonstrator project
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UWE Engineering’s Inspire Sustainability team took part in the Festival of Nature events in Bath and Bristol city centres between 7th and 15th of June – speaking to visitors about green jobs in our region. The Festival of Nature is a huge annual celebration of the natural world, with a whole range of activities and … Continue reading "Inspire team feature at the Festival of Nature"
Inspire team feature at the Festival of Nature
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Last week, Kat Corbett, Coordinator of the School of Engineering’s MAKERS Project and Repair Cafe, was among a select group of community repair leaders invited to take part in a unique event inside the Houses of Parliament. Kat was one of 20 representatives from repair cafés across the UK who supported a Parliamentary Repair Café … Continue reading "UWE Bristol’s MAKERS Project at the Parliamentary Repair Café"
UWE Bristol’s MAKERS Project at the Parliamentary Repair Café
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On Monday 19 May, the Green and Healthy Futures Fair brought new energy to the heart of St Pauls as residents from across Bristol gathered at the St Pauls Learning Centre for an afternoon of inspiration, connection, and practical support. Running from 1pm, the event created a welcoming space for people of all ages and … Continue reading "Looking Back at the Green and Healthy Futures Fair: A Day of Opportunity, Learning and Community"
Looking Back at the Green and Healthy Futures Fair: A Day of Opportunity, Learning and Community
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The Bristol Repair Coalition is a diverse alliance of community groups, social enterprises, local businesses, academic institutions, and city partners working together to rethink how we use and care for the materials, products, and waste in our city. Founded in March 2024 through the Repair Acts initiative, the Coalition aims to create a regenerative material … Continue reading "Bristol Repair Coalition: building a city-wide culture of repair and reuse"
Bristol Repair Coalition: building a city-wide culture of repair and reuse
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