Work begins on £5.5m engineering training centre

Work has begun on £5.5m engineering training centre which could attract further investment into a “transformational” development site in Lincolnshire.

Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) is due to open the new centre at Stallingborough in time to welcome 70 learners in August 2023.

Capacity will then increase gradually as new services are offered to meet the requirements of businesses already operating in the area and new arrivals at Pioneer Business Park, part of North East Lincolnshire Council’s £42m South Humber Industrial Investment Programme (SHIIP) project.

The facility is being built by local contractor Hobson & Porter.

Joanne Lawson, deputy chief executive of HETA, said: “Everything we do at HETA is led by employers – that’s always been our ethos. We develop new courses as and when they are requested and required. We are flexible, we can move quickly to put things in place and that’s what we are doing in Stallingborough.

“North East Lincolnshire Council know that the new training facilities will help to attract new companies into the area and we are working together to raise awareness of the new centre among businesses.”

The SHIIP project is regenerating a total of 189 hectares of land and HETA has acquired nearly three acres on which to build two-storey centre.

It will include workshops for fabrication and welding, machining and electrical and mechanical engineering, nine classrooms, IT suites, informal learning and recreation spaces and a workshop viewing gallery.

Joe Booth, business development director at Hobson & Porter, said: “We are delighted to be working again with HETA to deliver a flagship engineering training centre right in the heart of the Energy Estuary. We have a strong working relationship with HETA we are proud to deliver another valuable asset which will continue to deliver vital skills and training for local people and employers as the region continues to make its mark on the international stage.”

Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, added: “It’s great to see this development on site at Stallingborough – another milestone in the shaping of the business park. We’re committed to helping provide the best facilities for our young people to train for their future, helping to retain people and skills, and provide the best workforce we can for our future economy.”