Leicester College will formally open its upgraded Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering facilities at its Abbey Park campus following a multi-million-pound investment in resources, equipment and teaching spaces designed to ensure the college can provide industry-standard technical training to students and employers in the region.

The upgraded facilities will improve the practical and technical experience for existing and future students. The project included the installation of engineering laboratories and workshops to develop skills in robotics, programmable logic controllers, electronic circuits, electrical systems, mechanical systems, hydraulic and pneumatic systems together with a range of mills, lathes, grinders, rigs, testing equipment and simulators.

Leicester College prinicipal Verity Hancock said: “Our hard-working engineering students and staff deserve the superb facilities and equipment that have been developed. The college is grateful to the Department for Education for its investment and to everyone – designers, architects and builders – who have made this happen.”

Ibrar Raja, Leicester College director of engineering, said: “With the introduction of T Levels and the transition to HTQs, the Higher Education offering for engineering students is undergoing a shift towards addressing future recruitment issues, and local and national skills gaps. The funding received has enabled us to invest in our infrastructure for students, ensuring that we can provide them with real pathways to progression within their chosen engineering sector and safeguarding the skillsets for future generations.”

Leicester College offers engineering programmes from Foundation Level 1, for those initially developing their engineering journey, through to higher-level qualification including T Levels, Access courses and foundation degrees. Students can specialise in electrical, electronics, manufacturing, aeronautical, mechanical, electromechanical, space engineering, technical support engineering, fabrication, and welding, electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicle technologies.

Dedicated employer training can also aid upskilling of the workforce to meet local, regional, and national industry needs. For more information, visit the website here.