Manufacturing group adds 55,000 sq ft training facility

MANUFACTURING support group EEF has taken 55,000 sq ft of space at Hub 55 to expand its training capabilities.

Hub 55, three miles north of Birmingham at Witton, will complement its technology training base in Aston, which it launched two years ago.

The EEF has signed a 16-year lease for the site, where it will offer further hi-tech training facilities for apprentices, management and commercial staff working in the region’s motor industry and advanced manufacturing sectors.

EEF’s head of estates and facilities, Ian Christie said: “We are committed to supporting UK manufacturing, and this space will allow us to further expand and extend our training offer to provide the skills our sector needs in order to grow.”

Hub 55 is located at the Hub industrial and distribution park, which will also be home to the new Birmingham Wholesale Markets.

It was a speculative development that is now owned by CBRE Global investors (CBRE GI) after it bought five units, including Hub 55, in April as part of a £192m portfolio acquisition for an international pension fund client.

Rob Trevor, CBRE GI senior director, said: I believe the early letting reflects both the high quality of the development by IMP, and the strength of the Midlands market.”

Developers IMP still owns 29 acres of development land at the Witton-based park.