A further £2 million investment announced for EEF’s Aston training centre

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has announced it has invested a further £2 million into its state-of-the-art technology training centre in Aston, Birmingham.

The additional funding was announced during its annual apprentice graduation ceremony and takes EEF’s total investment at the Birmingham-based apprentice training centre to £5 million.

EEF says it will keep the centre at the forefront of new manufacturing and engineering technologies, ensuring that apprentices continue to learn both traditional and the most cutting-edge techniques. This, it says, will fully equip them for a sustainable and exciting career in modern industry. 

Work has just completed on providing nine additional new training sections containing £700,000 of high-tech equipment. The highlight of this latest development, says EEF, is a new robotics cell with four fully functional, industrial-scale robots.

“Our apprentices are the manufacturers and engineers of the future and this investment is about ensuring they learn the valuable skills that future industry will need,” said Caroline Gumble, Chief Operating Officer at EEF.

“These skills will not only pave the way for a rewarding long-term career, but are also vital if UK manufacturing is to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by rapidly advancing technology. This will be pivotal in securing Britain’s ongoing role on the global manufacturing stage.”

The technology training centre was officially opened in April 2014, by local MP, Khalid Mahmood, who has since taken an ongoing interest in its work to provide the Midlands with its future skilled workforce.

Mahmood attended this year’s graduation ceremony, during which a  total of 80 apprentices aged between 17 and 25 received certificates and awards, while Gregory Prentice, aged 22, an apprentice with HydraForce Hydraulics based in Birmingham, was named this year’s Apprentice of the Year.

“Manufacturing and engineering are by nature creative, innovative and constantly changing. This investment will keep EEF’s training centre one step ahead, ensuring that it continues to provide our young people with the skills they need for an exciting and sustainable career,” Mahmood commented.

EEF’s technology training centre runs over 40 different technical training courses and trains around 250 apprentices a year in a variety of vital skills including milling, CNC machinery, Mechatronics, Fluid Power, welding and fabrication.

The centre works in partnership with over 80 employers, ensuring that apprentices and other trainees learn how to use the cutting-edge technology and techniques used in manufacturing today.