Jake Berry MP paid a visit to the Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT) to see how an employer-led solution to bridging the skills gap is promising to boost competitiveness within the region’s advanced manufacturing sector.
The £4m MCMT, which has received £1.9m of Government Growth Deal funding via the Marches LEP and financial support from both the European Regional Development Fund and Shropshire Council, promises to deliver ‘2020 learners by 2020’ through apprenticeships and specialist upskilling training.
Berry also praised consortium partners Classic Motor Cars, Grainger & Worrall, Salop Design & Engineering and training provider In-Comm, who have helped get the MCMT project off the ground.
He said: “I was delighted to be one of the first to visit the Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology to see this remarkable training facility. Made possible with government funding, MCMT is a fantastic example of the Marches LEP, local employers and a training provider working together to equip young people with the real life skills they will need to become engineers of the future.”
As part of his visit, Berry was given a guided tour of the site, including the specialist CNC Zone, which includes more than £1m of machinery donated to the MCMT by the Engineering Technology Group. He also met with the first group of apprentices to talk about their experiences, their passion for engineering and how the centre will help them in their future careers.
Matthew Snelson, MD of the MCMT, added: “We are doing something completely different here to address a real challenge for our local businesses and the regional economy.
“Four companies have come together and put their money where their collective mouths are and, with the backing of government and the Marches LEP, we have developed what we believe is a world-class training centre that will address both the skills and competency gaps facing industry.
“It was great to show the Minister around, talk him through our vision and what we are looking to achieve. He’s welcome back for our official launch on 10 November, along with hopefully a further 200 guests all keen to get involved.”
The MCMT has already received backing from major names in industry, including ABB Robotics, FBC Manby Bowdler, Hexagon Metrology and Zwick Roell. They have pledged to donate equipment or provide expertise to anyone using the centre when it opens.
