The University of Wolverhampton is to spend around £500,000 on new laboratories and equipment to improve its engineering facilities at the Telford Innovation Campus. The new workshops will include two car bays to support the Formula Student competition.

The university is also developing a range of new undergraduate courses in automotive engineering, motor-sports, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechatronics, aeronautics, chemical engineering and electronics. They will be available for the 2015-16 academic year.

Paul Lister, head of engineering at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: “The new courses and improved facilities are to meet increasing demand for skilled engineering graduates.

"The region’s economy is experiencing a resurgence — exemplified by the Jaguar Land Rover and i54 developments — and we want to ensure our graduates are equipped with the right skills and experience to meet the needs of industry.

“Our long-term aim is to work with high-value manufacturing businesses in shared space at the campus and ensure that we maintain and further develop our links with the chemical, aerospace and automotive companies, while working collaboratively with our stakeholders and partners.”