A £10 million Advanced Manufacturing Hub is set to transform skills training in North Staffordshire after Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) was chosen to help lead the UK’s future workforce in the sector.
The college has been named as one of just four national Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs) in England placing it at the forefront of efforts to tackle skills shortage and boost high-value careers.
The Government yesterday announced £175 million for 19 new TECs around the country helping 65,000 young people train in key skills in defence, clean energy, manufacturing and digital, helping the meet demand for 600,000 workers needed in those industries.
Backed by significant investment from the Department for Education, NSCG will deliver an employer-led programme to accelerate the development of an skilled advanced manufacturing workforce.
The purpose-built Advanced Manufacturing Hub set to be operational by 2028/29and sit alongside the new Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology in Stafford, is central to the proposals.
The hub will focus on cutting-edge areas shaping the future of industry, including automation and robotics, smart factories, 3D printing, and low-carbon manufacturing.
The initiative will also strengthen links between the West Midlands and North West manufacturing corridors, with NSCG working with with other colleges and industry giants including GE Vernova, Hitachi, Indurent, MOOG, Siemens and the Applied Materials, Research & Commercialisation Company (AMRICC).
NSCG Principal and Chief Executive Craig Hodgson said the recognition reflects the college’s strong partnerships with industry and government.
He said: “This achievement is testament to the strength of our collaborative approach. We are particularly grateful for the support from our local MPs and major industry partners – including Siemens, Hitachi and GE Vernova – who supported our application with a fantastic vote of confidence in our ability to deliver the high-quality technical education that our economy demands.”
He added: “By strengthening our facilities and enhancing our specialist training in Advanced Manufacturing, we are not just providing our students with a world-class education; we are ensuring they have a clear, direct path into technically skilled, well-paid careers.
“We look forward to working with our employer network and partner colleges to ensure this investment drives lasting opportunity for our learners and sustained economic growth for our region, and beyond.”
Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, Eccleshall and the villages, added: “NSCG is so deserving of this national recognition, which brings with it significant government investment.
“Creating opportunities for young people is one of my top priorities as an MP, and where better to do it than in advanced manufacturing, which opens up access to well-paid, skilled careers in one of the most exciting sectors in the country.
“I’m so incredibly proud to have worked with the brilliant NSCG team and other MPs to help make this happen.”
NSCG’s bid was backed by every Staffordshire MP.
