Leicester College officially opened its brand new Motor Vehicle Engineering Centre at the Abbey Park Campus on Wednesday 28 October 2015.

The new £2.6million Centre was opened during the inaugural Leicester Business Festival 2015.

Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester City Mayor and Corin Crane, Director of the LLEP (Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership), Verity Hancock, Principal of Leicester College addressed the group of local and regional businesses, including Stepnells who built the new Centre.

Sir Peter Soulsby said:

“The Motor Vehicle Engineering Centre is an excellent example of how the Council is working with partners across the city to increase apprenticeship programmes and to provide young people with the skills they need for future success.

“I am delighted that the City Council, through the LLEP, has been part of this project and that we continue to support the development of the Skills Village”.

The Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) contributed £1.23million towards the new Centre, Corin Crane, Director of the LLEP said:

“The LLEP is completely committed to supporting projects that deliver skills and support that meets employer needs.”

“We know that there are jobs available for qualified and skilled workers in industries such as engineering and sustainable construction. So this new centre will be significant in providing opportunities for people to train and learn new skills in these sectors.”

The College currently trains over 975 learners who are studying on a full or part-time basis at our dedicated Engineering and Technology Centre based at the Abbey Park Campus. This number has steadily increase since the Centre was opened in 2008, with 21% more learners now being trained in the dedicated facility.

In the past seven years the Motor Vehicle department has expanded its entry and level 1 training to accommodate a 250% rise in recruitment. In 2009 the College launched its innovative Motor Sport Course which offers level 2 and 3 training opportunities.

With the support of Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership’s growth deal the College has been able to further develop its Engineering and Motor Vehicle facilities.

Craig Visram, Programme Lead for Automotive, said:

“The workshop is light and airy with plenty of space, the classrooms are well laid out and allow us to deliver practical, theory and IT based sessions, and the interactive smart screens are extremely good.”

Charlotte Bell studying Motor Vehicle and Repair Level 2, 16 said:

“It is great learning in the new facility, we have so much more space to work in.”

Learner Henry Vials studying Motor Vehicle and Repair Level 2, 17 said:

“It is a great privilege to be one of the first to use the new Motor Vehicle Engineering Centre, makes coming to College and learning more enjoyable.”

The opening of the Motor Vehicle Engineering Centre marks the start of building Leicester College’s Skills Village and gives the College capacity to expand existing provision. It will allow for Higher Education at level four and five either as a HNC/D Diploma or a Foundation Degree in motor vehicle maintenance and repair.