Advanced manufacturing centre secures £9.2million government funding

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills has awarded £9.2 million from the Regional Growth Fund to establish the centre, which will provide training for companies along the supply chain in high value manufacturing sectors. The AMI Training Centre will focus on high level apprentice training, concentrating on sectors such as aerospace, energy and Formula 1. More than 200 apprentices will benefit from the new facility each year thorugh nine to 12 months of intensive training. Professor Keith Ridgway OBE, executive dean of manufacturing at the AMI, said: "We are delighted that the government is supporting us in this initiative. It will encourage more manufacturing companies to employ young people, with the confidence that they are receiving the world class skills training they need to compete in today´s advanced manufacturing sectors." Tony Pedder, pro chancellor and chair of the AMI, added: "This is great news for manufacturing, particularly in the local region. This new centre will equip the next generation of manufacturers with world class advanced manufacturing skills, something that will provide a real boost to growth." The AMI Training Centre will be based in a new 5,000m² building, to be situated close to the university's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing and the Nuclear AMRC. It is expected to open for business in September 2013,