This is a talking point published in the Hereford Times on November 28.

James Newby, chief executive, Nmite

AT NMITE, something surprising is happening. Some of our students are local and excited by the opportunity to study engineering close to home.

Many others, however, have joined NMITE from across the country, expecting their time in Herefordshire to be temporary only to find themselves choosing to stay local after graduation.

Engineering graduates with work-ready skills are like hens’ teeth and can build careers anywhere, yet these ambitious individuals are choosing Herefordshire as the place to put down roots and build their lives.

I think I understand why. Four years ago, when I accepted my role at NMITE, I faced an enormous choice: should I move to Herefordshire, a county I had never been to?

At first, I considered commuting part time, splitting my week between Herefordshire and my previous home.

It seemed practical— my wife, a teacher, wouldn’t have to uproot her career, and my son, Joe (a teenager with attitude) would not be separated from his friends and familiar surroundings.

But I quickly realised that I needed to be here. NMITE is more than a university; it is weaving itself into the fabric of Herefordshire.

It works to create better education, higher-paying jobs, and new investment for the county.

You can’t make these things happen by simply dialling in your contribution from elsewhere.

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So, we made the move. We bought a house, my wife now teaches locally, and Joe started studying at Hereford Sixth Form College. They did a fantastic job with him – though he still has his attitude. What I didn’t expect was how much we would come to feel at home in this new place.

Looking back, I realise that our move wasn’t just about the jobs; it was about becoming part of a county with so much potential.

Herefordshire, I’ve learned, isn’t just a place to study or work. It’s a place to belong, and it’s no wonder so many of our students are choosing to stay.