Shrewsbury College unveils £1m investment in engineering

Shrewsbury College's engineering department unveiled the investment in equipment, which will help with training in 3D modelling, advanced machining, fabrication and welding, electronics, robotics and manufacturing equipment.

It has also brought in new kit to help training in automotive engineering, and mechatronic engineering, which relates to areas such as robotics.

The investment at the London Road campus will support training for 180 businesses, and is expected in turn to create more than 450 apprenticeships.

Head of engineering Andrew Lee said: “The result of this funding is that we have become one of the largest and best-equipped engineering and automotive centres in the region.

"The investment has already had a big impact on the department. We have entered several students into the WorldSkills UK 2017 competition who have been training on the new equipment.

"Our relationships and partnerships with local businesses have strengthened and we have increased the number and type of apprenticeships we are offering both local and multi-national companies, to enable them to train engineers with advanced skills to best suit their developing business needs.”

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership put in £500,000 for the investment via its Growth Deal, while the college invested £250,000.

A number of companies contributed gifts, including precision measurements company Status Metrology, which gifted £100,000 towards metrology equipment and software.

The total value of new equipment and software totals about £1 million.

A plaque was unveiled this morning by LEP director Gill Hamer, who talked about why engineering is a priority for the partnership.

Invited guests ranged from employers, qualification awarding bodies, manufacturers and suppliers.

Staffordshire University, Caterpillar, Shropshire Business Board, Harper Adams University, Ricoh, Halfords, Salop Design and Engineering, Greenhous and Doncasters were among the organisations represented at the unveiling.

Ms Hamer said: “Manufacturing employers across the Marches are telling us that a lack of people with the right skills is a barrier to business. It is also a barrier to the economic growth of this region.

“Working with businesses, we have developed an advanced manufacturing skills project to fund the development of three training centres in our region to meet employer demand.

"The Growth Deal funding for the Shrewsbury College centre will see more than 180 businesses directly supported and the creation of more than 450 Apprenticeships."

Shrewsbury Colleges Group principal James Staniforth added: “This fantastic investment in our facilities puts us in the unique position of being able to offer students a range of courses from basic introductory levels, through to degrees, apprenticeships and bespoke training, which meets individual company needs.

“This collaborative project will enable us to meet the business and student needs in many varied engineering disciplines and qualifications. It’s an exciting day in the history of the college, and cements its place as the leading training provider for the region.”