Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA), which has been supporting engineering employers for more than 50 years, has moved into new headquarters as part of an investment programme costing around £4.5 million.

With support from Hull City Council’s Economic Regeneration team and the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which secured a £1.3 million grant from the Local Growth Fund, it has relocated its Hull operation into the Advanced Engineering Training Centre in Dansom Lane and earlier this month began welcoming the first students to the new facility.

HETA chairman Malcolm Joslin said (www.heta.co.uk): “We are continuing to address the skills shortage in the Humber region by providing industry-leading training in the engineering sector.

“The advanced facilities and courses that the Humber LEP grant will help to deliver have been designed in partnership with the businesses that HETA works alongside.

“This ensures that they are highly relevant.”

HETA opened in 1967 and has launched the engineering careers of thousands of young people, while maintaining its original commitment to operate as an employer-led organisation.

It employs more than 70 people at three sites and expects to recruit more as a result of the new investment.

It is currently training more than 600 apprentices, in partnership with more than 300 employers.