First 68 apprenticeship places now available at £3m Shropshire training hub

June 16, 2017

68 apprenticeship places are up for grabs later this month when Shropshire’s newest training hub holds a major summer event.
Young people, parents and businesses are being encouraged to attend the ‘showcase’ which will mark 60 days before the official opening of the £3m Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT), a state-of-the-art hub that will support ‘2020 learners by 2020’.
Led by employers Grainger & Worrall, Classic Motor Cars, Salop Design & Engineering and training specialist In-Comm, the centre will provide the county with access to over 65,000 sq ft of engineering and manufacturing space and will be equipped with technology that will ensure apprentices are industry-ready when they leave.
The event, due to be held on June 30 between 1pm-6pm, will give visitors an exclusive opportunity to gain a ‘sneak-peak’ at the development of the MCMT, a virtual tour of the different technology zones and a chance to meet key members of the team.
There will also be a chance for young people to sign-up to be part of the first cohort of apprentices available in courses ranging from maintenance engineering, business improvement and welding, to automotive, electrical, engineering design and mechanical engineering.
“We are continually told there is a skills shortage in the region and this is holding companies back… well now is the time to stop talking about it and actually embrace a bold and ambitious vision to bridge that gap” explained Matthew Snelson, managing director for MCMT
“The Summer Event will see us throw open our doors so people can see how construction and the fit-out is going and we should be able to unveil the striking frontage of the training school.”
He continued: “our trainers will also be on hand to go through the details of the courses, what is involved, the new technology you will be learning on and how this can lead to career progression and even a degree – the latter without the debt that conventionally goes with it.
“A lot of employers are already backing the MCMT and a large number of apprenticeship places currently available will be linked to companies so you have ready-made jobs.”
The Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology has received £1.9m of Government Growth Deal funding via the Marches LEP to bring the concept into reality, with £1.1m of private funding already pledged.
It will provide a high-tech environment for individuals to learn from engineering experts on the latest technology – all geared towards giving them opportunities to apply their new found skills on real life manufacturing situations.
Located on The Stanmore Industrial Estate in Bridgnorth, the MCMT will house fabrication, foundry, lathe, metrology, milling, robotics and vehicle trimming sections, as well as a specialist CNC Zone and spray booth/mixing capabilities.
There will also be an auditorium lecture theatre, bespoke learning environments, five vehicle ramps and a rolling road test facility.
Matthew concluded: “We are just finalising the technology that will be installed and ready for action when we launch in September. It’s an exciting list so far and will be far more advanced than anything current available in the county.
“For instance, there will be 30 manual lathes and milling centres, a Laser Roamer arm for metrology, Hardinge Bridgeport CNC Centres, Halter Automation Robotics Line and testing machines. This is just a snapshot; the full capability will be announced shortly.”

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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