MTC selected as base for new National College for Advanced Manufacturing
A NEW National College for Advanced Manufacturing is to be jointly headquartered in Coventry and Sheffield, the government has announced.
The government will work with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC) and the EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, to set up the college, which will operate on a hub and spoke system similar to the National College for High Speed Rail, which was announced earlier this autumn.
The NCAM will collaborate with the best established providers nationwide with the aim of developing new world-class skills for the manufacturing industry.
In Coventry, the college will be housed within the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) at Ansty Park.
MTC chief executive Dr Clive Hickman said, “We are proud to be at the forefront of the National College of Advanced Manufacturing. At the MTC we are seeing the development of what will be a flagship training centre for high value manufacturing. As manufacturing technology advances, the centre will develop the skills and knowledge required to meet the challenges faced by the sector.”
The announcement is a significant boost to Ansty on the day that Rolls-Royce announced it was set to close its turbine blade factory at the park as part of a series of cutbacks.
The HVMC leads innovation in manufacturing – its role is intended to ensure training equips learners for the future needs of the economy.
In addition to the advanced manufacturing facility, the government is also launching colleges specialising in the digital, wind energy and creative industries. The government hopes the colleges will enable the UK to close its skills gap and put it on a par with its international competitors.
The four colleges will cater for some 10,000 students by 2020, enabling bright young people to gain professional qualifications up to postgraduate level.
Up to £80m of capital funding will be matched by employers over 2015 to 2016 and 2016 to 2017 – a potential total investment of £160m by 2017.
Business Secretary Vince Cable launched the colleges during a visit to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Training Centre, which will be the new manufacturing college’s Sheffield location.
Mr Cable said: “Economic growth is underpinned by technological innovation, a strong manufacturing sector and scientific excellence. The UK can no longer afford to lag behind countries like France and Germany, which have invested heavily in technical skills at the highest level for generations.
“This new facility puts Sheffield and Coventry at the heart our nationwide drive to create the high-wage, high-skilled jobs of the future. It will give young people the opportunity to access the best industry-led training as well as help local firms attract the talent they need to grow their business.”
