Manufacturers’ organisation EEF will open an Apprentice & Skills Training Centre in the West Midlands in a bid to boost world class manufacturing education.
The facility at Nexus Point, Witton, in Birmingham will replace EEF’s current centre at Tyseley. It will provide companies with access to training facilities and offer learning, re-skilling and up-skilling of individuals, from apprentices through to adult learners.
The multi-million pound investment will double the number of classrooms and lecture theatres currently available. Workshop training areas will have increased capacity.
Peter Winebloom, EEF apprentices and skills director, said: “We looked at options of developing our existing site, but it was too constrained. The new facility will be an industry-leading apprentice centre for employers in the West Midlands and across the UK, with sufficient capacity to cater for current and future needs.”
See The Manufacturer June issue for more detail from EEF’s Peter Winebloom on the relocation of EEF’s Training Centre and its investment roadmap.
Initially the centre is being designed to be able to train 130 apprentices on any given day, with apprentices getting their own dedicated training work stations, whether that be a CNC machine, CAD work station or welding bay. Trainees will rotate around the various sections during their training and will have the opportunity to specialise in any skills area.
Re-skilling and up-skilling courses will also be available. Manufacturing, mechanical and electrical pathways will continue to be the core offering and the delivery team will ensure apprentice programmes are designed and delivered to meet the needs of employers.
EEF hopes to open the centre in September, in time to welcome the new 2013 intake.
Business secretary Vince Cable commented: “With figures out this week showing growth in the manufacturing sector, it’s important we are giving people the right training to meet future demand. Facilities like these from EEF will help as we create the next generation of manufacturers. Apprentices will be able to gain hands-on experience in their chosen speciality, acquiring the skills and techniques that employers need to help create a stronger economy.”
