Walsall College launches £300,000 engineering workshop

THE ribbon has been cut on Walsall College’s new engineering and manufacturing workshop, following a £300,000 capital investment.

It is hope that the facility will help to address regional skills shortages.

Work on the 2,744 sq ft workshop started in early May and a large part of the revamp has been carried out by 25 carpentry and painting & decorating students as part of their work experience programme.

The refurbished space is now equipped with the very latest engineering technology and equipment designed to provide students with the employability skills to support the engineering jobs of the future.

The workshop now boasts a CNC milling machine, several manual milling machines and a number of lathes, the majority of which have been supplied by local company Chester Machine Tools.

College bosses said the new facility would help curtail the current shortfall of skilled engineers by “rejuvenating” local provision in the Black Country.

The college supports more than 80 engineering apprentices and the new workshop will allow for further expansion.

James Norris, assistant principal for commercial development at Walsall College, said: “We are fully committed to the engineering and manufacturing sectors and this investment represents phase one of our ambition to be a leader within this sector, supporting the growth in apprenticeships and higher level skills.

“This fantastic new facility will enable us to work in partnership with a growing number of employers from the industry and ultimately rejuvenate the engineering curriculum offer in the Black Country.”