Over 1000 Shropshire Apprenticeships could be generated

A £2.8 million project aimed at creating thousands of new apprenticeships has been launched in Shropshire.

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership is in the final stages of talks with three bidders to develop Advanced Manufacturing Hubs in three locations around the Marches, which covers Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire.

The training centres would support employers in parts of the region where there is limited access to workforce training. The first is expected to open on Bridgnorth’s Stanmore Industrial Estate.

The largest contract, worth more than £1.9m, is led by four partners – Shropshire employers Grainger & Worrall, Classic Motor Cars Ltd and Salop Design & Engineering and training specialist In-Comm Training.

The consortium intends to develop the Marches Institute of Manufacturing and Technology which will deliver training in Bridgnorth and Shrewsbury and aims to create 1,913 apprenticeships.

It would also support 416 businesses and nearly 1,000 bite-sized training courses.

Graham Wynn, chairman of the Marches LEP, said: “Additional capital investment is needed to support the manufacturing sector to develop their skills base, equipping them to maximise future opportunities.

“I am delighted that manufacturing employers have responded to our call for them to take the lead in developing how the skills needs of their workforce can be addressed.

“As a result, we are in the final throes of negotiations to award three contracts to consortiums with numerous private sector employers.

“The first hub to be developed will be at a site in Bridgnorth, and we expect to be able to announce details of the other two training hubs in the coming weeks.”

Matthew Snelson, director at Grainger and Worrall, said: “We are delighted and excited to be part of the consortium of companies who are forming the Marches Institute of Manufacturing and Technology.

“Our objective is to develop engineers of the future, both as apprentices and in our existing workforces. The Institute will support companies large and small across our region, to become more productive, more competitive, and support sustainable growth”.

The training centres are due to open in 2017. Funding for the project was awarded to the LEP via its initial Growth Deal for capital skills projects.

Growth Deals are awarded to LEPs through a competitive bidding process to fund the delivery of projects to boost the local economy.

“The Marches Institute of Manufacturing and Technology is a major step forward for skills provision in the area and gives employers much-needed access to specialist training and state-of-the-art facilities,” added Gareth Jones, managing director of In-Comm Training.

“Industry, and the automotive sector in particular, has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years and we need to ensure we are taking action now to upskill existing members of staff and, importantly, create a pipeline of new engineers to support ambitious expansion plans.”

“It’s time that we reshored provision back to Shropshire and gave firms access to the best employee development opportunities on their doorstep.”

– Shropshirestar