Telford College's new engineering centre to fill the skills gap
Telford College has just completed the building of a new Engineering and Technology centre. This new flagship centre delivers many of the Engineering and Technology disciplines that are in short supply throughout the region.
The curriculum delivered by the centre has been decided upon through dialogue with employers who operate in the engineering sector within the area. Steve Jones, head of school for STEM at Telford College said, "In our discussions with employers many of them often cite the lack of high level engineering practical skills when it comes to recruiting suitable new staff. This centre delivers a range of skills which are vital to the continued economic development of the region.
Included in the skills delivered by the centre are:-
Computer Aided Design
Computer Aim Manufacturing
Milling and Turning
Hi-tech Automated Machining programming (CNC)
Welding skills
Hand fitting and fabrication skills
The skills provided by this centre compliment the other high-level skills covered by other parts of such as Automation, Electrical Engineering, Automotive and Construction.
The centre also includes a flagship training facility for learners to programme automated manufacturing equipment called CNC machines. This new facility has been developed in association with local companies and is a vocational target for the region, it will be known as the GKN Advanced Manufacturing Centre.
The development of this facility is timed to coincide with other significant investment which is coming to the region over the next two years. These developments will see major engineering manufacturers investing millions of pounds in the region as they relocate their manufacturing facilities here. In addition to the massive skills requirement that these investments will directly create in operating these plants, there will be a huge benefit to the manufacturing supply chain and local economy.
