One of the Black Country’s leading training providers has pushed the button on a £1.5m extension that will more than triple the size of its facility in Aldridge.
In-Comm Training, which was recently awarded ‘Outstanding’ status by Ofsted, has joined forces with workholding specialist Hyfore to develop an Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centre next door to its current site in Vigo Place.
Backed by the Black Country LEP’s Growth Deal, the ambitious plan will create an additional 16,000 sq ft of space that will be fitted out with world class CNC machine tools, automation and a robotics line, fluid power stations and a dedicated electrical and electronics section.
It will also house material testing, material handling and grinding capabilities, as well as a 16-seater Mastercam and CIMCO CAD/CAM studio to help students develop their design for manufacturing skills.
Gareth Jones, Managing Director of In-Comm Training, commented: “Things are happening to bridge the skills gap, but not many firms have thought about the competency gap and that involves looking at equipping firms in the West Midlands with the technical and advanced skills they need to make the most of global opportunities.
“This extension, which gives us a combined space of 21,000 sq ft, will address this issue and create a world class training hub that will provide an additional 420 Apprenticeship Trailblazer places between now and 2022. We will also aim to provide over 1200 upskilling courses in prototyping, R&D, operational excellence and data analysis.”
He continued: “Getting Industry 4.0 ready is not just something for the big manufacturers to think of, SMEs also have to embrace it and take advantage of increased connectivity and real time data and automation.
“This facility will help SMEs gain access to application engineers and state-of-the-art technology that will allow them to product develop and process map prior to installing manufacturing cells into their factories.”
Work on the extension will start shortly and will be completed by the 4th September to welcome a new apprenticeship intake.
In-Comm has been offering industry and commerce a wide range of training and business solutions for 35 years.
The firm has a proven track record of developing apprentices, with more than 500 learners either completing or undertaking their learning at its centres in Aldridge and Shrewsbury.
It is also playing a key role in the launch of the £4m Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT), a state-of-the-art training hub in Bridgnorth that is being led by Classic Motor Cars, Grainger & Worrall and Salop Design & Engineering.
For further information, please visit www.in-comm.co.uk
Bekki Phillips and Gareth Jones of In-Comm Training