Engineering skills boost for Staffordshire with opening of new £2m training centre

FUTURE generations of engineers are set to get a skills boost following the opening of a new training centre in Staffordshire.

The Torc Professional and Technical Centre, based in Tamworth, forms part of South Staffordshire College’s manufacturing and engineering skills hub. The town centre campus includes an automotive and engineering facility.

The former Torc vocational centre has undergone a full refurbishment following a £1m investment by Staffordshire County Council, matched by the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP.

Cllr Ben Adams, Staffordshire’s learning and skills leader, said early courses had been well received.

“The new electrical engineering courses have seen a good uptake, which is hugely encouraging. It means there has been an immediate impact on people’s learning and that we are addressing the issue of a local skills gap for employers,” he said.

“We continue to see increasing job opportunities in Staffordshire with unemployment now at a seven year low. These are better paid jobs which need specific skills and so it’s vital our workforce can meet those demands.

“The learning offer at Torc has been vastly improved and its long-term viability secured which is good news for the people in Tamworth and for businesses across the county.”

David Frost, chairman of the LEP, said the new centre formed part of the first phase of the partnership’s advanced manufacturing hub.

“The hub will address skills shortages in one of our area’s growing sectors and will be extended across the LEP area,” he said.

The Tamworth skills hubs will offer a range of courses for people from the age of 14, turning it into a leading facility to complement expanding operations at a range of companies including JCB and Jaguar Land Rover.

South Staffordshire College already has links with a number of employers in the automotive and engineering sector. It is also working with Jaguar Land Rover to support local people in applying for semi-skilled roles at the company.

This involves an introduction to engineering programme and a sector-based work academy. The hubs will work to further increase the number of apprentices in Staffordshire.

South Staffordshire College Principal Graham Morley said: “The college is delighted to expand the engineering, automotive and construction provision in Tamworth through these two hubs and is committed to working with schools, the local community and business to deliver the skills that employers need.”