The Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT) in Bridgnorth is to be supported by Shropshire law firm FBC Manby Bowdler in a two-year deal aimed at making the centre an ‘engineering powerhouse’ in the region; employers using the centre to train their workforce and develop their apprenticeship programmes will have access to expert legal advice.
The facility has more than 65,000ft
2 of engineering and manufacturing space, equipped with cutting-edge technology to ensure that students are industry-ready when they leave.
Legal experts from FBC Manby Bowdler, which has a dedicated team supporting the manufacturing sector, will offer employers using the centre a full legal review, a legal help line and half-year seminars on issues affecting the sector (including data protection, intellectual property and HR).
Neil Lloyd, sales director at FBC Manby Bowdler (
www.fbcmb.co.uk), said: “MCMT is an employer-led solution to close the skills gap, and we are passionate about what it will deliver to manufacturing and engineering companies in this region.
"It is a real chance for employers to say what skills they need, an opportunity for them to invest in their future workforce and to make sure that their apprentices and existing employees are equipped with the appropriate skills for the benefit of the business.”
The centre, which officially opened in November, has received £1.9 million of Government Growth Deal funding via the Marches LEP.
It will provide a high-tech environment for individuals to learn from engineering experts on the latest technology — all geared towards giving them opportunities to apply their new-found skills to real-life manufacturing situations.