The new North Worcestershire Engineering Centre of Excellence held an open event today (9 June), attended by businesses and representatives from the local area.
The new Engineering Centre of Excellence, run by specialist training provider Midland Group Training Services (MGTS), will provide a dedicated facility to ensure that young people within the area can be trained with the engineering skills that local companies require. Lee Weatherly, CEO of Midland Group Training Services gave attendees a tour of the new £1.5m facility which includes new CNC machinery and manufacturing equipment.
The centre has been set up to deliver advanced manufacturing education, training and assessment at Levels 3 and 4, with an emphasis on advanced CNC and automation. MGTS, as a registered educational charity, has invested £800,000 in the centre to deliver apprenticeships and engineer development programmes, which is set to train up to 200 young apprentices over the next 4 years.
The new £1.5m advanced engineering and manufacturing training centre in Redditch opened earlier this year, following a private and public sector collaboration with Midland Group Training Services (MGTS) investing £800,000 and both Worcestershire LEP and Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP investing £350,000 each through the Government’s Growth Deals. The North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration (NWedR) team worked with partners on behalf of Redditch Borough Council.
Lee Weatherly, CEO of Midland Group Training Services (MGTS), said: “It was a pleasure to showcase the North Worcestershire Engineering Centre of Excellence and to give a tour of our fantastic new machinery and facilities. Our new centre of excellence will help to train hundreds of apprentices and I am confident that the centre will have a hugely positive impact on the future of the local engineering and manufacturing industry in particular.”
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire LEP, said: “It’s great to see a large attendance for the North Worcestershire Engineering Centre of Excellence open event, following its Ministerial opening earlier this year. We have part funded the modern training facility to provide the relevant STEM based skills for the long-term development of our local workforce.”
Andrew Cleaves, Board Director – Skills, Greater Birmingham and Solihull, said: “We are delighted the facility is operational and helping the region’s engineers develop their skills in this vital sector. This project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when LEPs work jointly together with the private sector to inspire local people and deliver the skills the local economy needs”
Cllr Bill Hartnett, Redditch Borough Council Leader, said: “This Council is committed to providing apprenticeship opportunities because we want our young to be the entrepreneurs of the future and continue to live and prosper in their hometown. So I welcome the news that this excellent facility is now open.”
For further information on the North Worcestershire Engineering Centre of Excellence, visit the Midland Group Training Services website.