A new technical education centre officially opened last month at Reaseheath College in Cheshire.

The £8 million Centre for Advanced Engineering and Agri-Technology has been created specifically to deliver next-generation skills in precision engineering, precision farming, service engineering and diagnostic testing.

Supported by Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, it has been created in partnership with leading agricultural engineering companies, many of which have donated machinery and equipment.

The specialist facility will enable lecturers to deliver technical training on the latest crop production systems and subjects such as data mapping to agricultural engineering students.

It has workshops and a technology suite equipped for the teaching of computer-controlled automation and high-end precision engineering.

Reaseheath (www.reaseheath.ac.uk) is looking to expand its agricultural engineering courses to include Level 4 and Continuing Professional Development for those already working in the industry.

It also plans to cater for advanced apprenticeships in agricultural and construction plant engineering. The centre was officially opened by Ed Hansom, CEO of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers.

He said: “This new centre is an excellent example of how academia and industry can work together to move agricultural engineering well and truly into the 21st century.

“These facilities will ensure that Reaseheath students are fully prepared to meet the technological and engineering challenges of a rapidly changing industry.”

The machinery on display at the launch included the world’s fastest tractor (pictured), built by JCB and recently driven to a record-breaking 136mph by television presenter Guy Martin.