Cheshire College has launched its new state-of-the-art facility, which features technologies, such as 3D printers, CAD equipment, robotics and the new motor vehicle workshop, including a plug-in hybrid EV area for electric and hybrid vehicles.
Since 2017, in excess of £10m has been invested into Ellesmere Port Campus and a large amount of that has been T-Level funding, aiming to enhance students’ technical training opportunities and equip them with the tools they need for industry.
The recent launch event was a chance to showcase the new facilities to various partners, including local employers and stakeholders, that will directly benefit from the new facilities.
The likes of Trac Precision Solutions, along with organisations such as the Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub were given an exclusive tour of the facility and shown all aspects of where the investment has gone, as well as the ways in which students and the wider community are benefiting.
The College has worked closely with partner employers during the development of the Construction and Engineering area to ensure the facility contains key technical equipment that meets ever-evolving industry needs.
The new facilities (Image: Cheshire College)
Mark Parsons, Assistant Principal of Curriculum at the College said: “This investment was important to us as a College as the facility will be hugely beneficial to our students as well as the wider community.
“Students will have the opportunity to augment their training through access to world-class equipment and on-the-job experiences that will enable students to gain the skills they need to secure sustainable futures within the industry.
“We’re grateful to the partner employers and organisations that came to the launch event and joined us in opening the fantastic new facilities. We were pleased to be able to show our guests what the facility has to offer and how it will improve learning experiences which will ultimately benefit the wider community and help to plug the skills gap.”
The equipment and technologies at the Construction and Engineering facility are not just for 16+ and 19+ school leavers but also for adult students and the wider community.
Some members of the trade sector may not be familiar with more modern technologies and as such businesses will be offered the chance to enrol their employees on courses to help them upskill and deploy their learnings in future projects.
Students of all levels will be able to utilise the equipment, including the T Level construction and engineering cohort at the Ellesmere Port campus. T Levels equip students with the real-life technical skills that are valued and required by employers in various industries.
