Telford college launches engineering centre

Telford College has launched its new engineering centre at the Wellington campus, aimed at addressing local skills gaps.

The facility includes a Local Skills Improvement Training Space for upskilling maintenance technicians, featuring equipment for soldering, desoldering, and electric repair, as well as a new hydraulic and pneumatic lab.

It is part of a £2.5m funding initiative by the Marches Education Partnership to improve skills training in Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, and Herefordshire.

The launch event included a briefing with principal Lawrence Wood, who discussed the college’s plans for working with local businesses.

Wood said: “My experience of working in partnership with industry goes back many years, and I know that it can make a difference. A college needs to be very much rooted in its community, and the key to that is our work
with businesses – not just on technical skills, but soft skills around communication and teamwork too. I hear this loud and clear from many employers.

“It’s important that there is a dialogue between employers and the college to ensure we understand how best to structure ourselves to meet that need, with a clear and understandable menu of opportunities. Learners are our customers, businesses are our customers, and members of the local community are our customers. Our curriculum has to be designed in partnership with them all.”