5 July 2012

University helps deliver new apprenticeships for Sheffield City Region

Plans for a world-class Training Centre focused on advanced manufacture, which will form part of a complex of state-of-the-art facilities at the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), have been approved by Rotherham Council.

The 5,566 sq. m. AMRC Training Centre will be located just off the M1 at Waverley and will develop highly-qualified people in preparation for work in all areas of the engineering sector. It is a crucial next step in the development of a hub of advanced manufacturing expertise around the initial Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, which now involves some 60 partner companies, including world-leaders such as Rolls-Royce.

Research Director and Founder of the AMRC Professor Keith Ridgway believes that the AMRC Training Centre is fundamental to the regeneration of the area and its full transformation into a national and international hub for advanced manufacture.

He said: "The AMRC Training Centre is essential to our vision of bringing together research and world-class engineering of the kind carried out at the University of Sheffield with real business challenges and issues in manufacture. As well as the latest equipment and facilities, companies need staff who understand the new context and who have worked alongside engineers and the very latest understanding. The AMRC Training Centre will provide exactly that – real opportunities for young people to work but also learn the latest in engineering, even potentially taking a degree part time or beyond that."

The AMRC Training Centre will provide training in the practical and academic skills that manufacturing companies need to compete globally, from apprenticeship through to Doctorate and MBA level. Its focus will be on 250 young people training as apprentices each year, with as many as 400 on site once the programme is fully underway.

University of Sheffield Vice-Chancellor Professor Keith Burnett also welcomed the news that planning permission has been granted for the AMRC Training Centre. He commented: "The AMRC Training Centre is a model which supports the development of talented young engineers and manufacturers, but also offers these apprentices a fantastic opportunity to gain experience working and learning with the world’s best. As companies continue to locate in the area around the collaborative expertise of our outstanding Engineers and supply chain companies, the AMRC Training Centre will provide the skill base to support business growth."

Harworth Estates' development manager for the Waverley site, Duncan Armstrong-Payne, said: "This is the green light for a key new development on the Waverley AMP site. The AMRC Training Centre will provide world class facilities which will complement the work already being carried out at the AMP, where Rolls-Royce recently announced it will build its new turbine blades facility."

The Centre will focus on high-level apprentice training, concentrating on sectors such as aerospace, energy and Formula One. It will also host part time CPD courses with the training schedule guided by the AMRC's industrial partners and participating companies.