The Bank of England's agent for the South West spoke at the launch of a range of new industry-led courses at the University of Gloucestershire.

The new courses will train future professionals in architecture, construction and environmental disciplines.

Malindi Myers spoke about the bank's latest economic update, which provided a helpful economic backdrop to guests from industry and partners of the university.

She said: "There is clearly an ongoing need for construction skills and expertise, and there are a myriad of interesting roles in the sector, particularly as we move towards a more sustainable economy and net zero."

Launch guests enjoyed a tour of the newly refurbished studio and teaching spaces at the university's Francis Close Hall campus in Cheltenham, had access to the specialist IT, fabrication and model-making workshops, and met the team teaching students on the range of new programmes.

The university has created the new undergraduate and postgraduate courses in architecture and construction in response to a growing demand from industry locally, nationally and internationally.

The new courses are undergraduate programmes in architecture, interior architecture and design, quantity surveying, urban planning and construction project management, as well as progression master's programmes in urban planning and design, digital construction, architecture, interior architecture and construction project management.

They join the university's existing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in landscape architecture, which have been running since 1961.

Stephen Marston, vice-chancellor of the university, said: "We were approached by the Construction Industry Training Board and local businesses asking us to explore delivering a range of courses that would meet the need of business and fill the skills gaps across a range of industries.

"Through our conversations with industry representatives, our new courses have been developed at apprenticeship, undergraduate and postgraduate level.

"They explore the technical, digital and sustainable challenges facing industry, as well as the diversity and inclusivity of professional career pathways.

"Importantly, our new courses aim to encourage new applicants to see the exciting potential of these industries, as well as advance the professional career disciplines of those already working within them."