Technical Academy opens in Aldridge
Posted on 14 Apr 2018 and read 3046 times
In-Comm Training (
www.in-comm.co.uk), an employer-led collaboration comprising 12 manufacturers, opened a new £3 million 24,000ft
Technical Academy in Aldridge at the end of last month.
The centre, which has been backed by £733,000 of Black Country LEP Growth Deal funding, is fitted out with the latest CNC machine tools, automation, robotics, metrology equipment and fluid power stations — plus a dedicated electrical and electronics section.
It will also house material-testing, material-handling and grinding capabilities — plus 16 seats of Mastercam software and Cimco’s CAD/CAM ‘studio’ software.
Gareth Jones, managing director of In-Comm Training, said: “This is a transformational project for the region that will ensure SME manufacturers have the capabilities and skills to remain competitive.
“The investment will create 420 ‘Trailblazer Apprenticeship’ places between now and 2022, while also providing 1,250 advanced-learning opportunities.
“Moreover, this isn’t basic training; this facility will help SMEs gain access to applications engineers and ‘state of the art’ technology.”
The centre is backed by the likes of ABB Robotics, Blum-Novotest, Engineering Technology Group, Hexagon Metrology, Houghton, Hyfore, IMI Precision Engineering, Mitsubishi EDM and Zwick Roell.
Mr Jones added: “This year, we are 40% up on the number of apprenticeship starts against a national decline of 61%. That is a statistic that shows what happens when employers get really involved in developing the right skills and training provision.
“The Technical Academy will ensure that SMEs in the Black Country and the West Midlands have access to the workforce and the technology that will make them globally competitive.”