Shropshire could provide template for apprentice training says Minister

Jake Berry, the Government’s secretary for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, visited the £4 million Marches Centre of Manufacturing & Technology (MCMT) at Bridgnorth to see how it can help to improve skills in the local workforce.

The centre took in its first apprentices last week after a combined investment by the Marches LEP, Classic Motor Cars, Grainger & Worrall, Salop Design & Engineering, and training provider In-Comm.

And Mr Berry visited Bridgnorth’s Stanmore Industrial Estate to look around the 36,000 sq ft building and hear how it will help keep young people in Shropshire, and to develop the skills needed to improve the output of the local economy.

He said: “I was particularly keen to visit this facility, not least because Philip Dunne has been such a big advocate of it.

“As we move towards an industrial strategy locally here it’s vital that we build on skills. Businesses wherever you go in the country need a high skills base.

“If you live in Shropshire I want people to know the choice isn’t going to university and going somewhere else, sending the best and brightest to the large cities. There are highly paid, highly skilled jobs through the route of occupational training available here.

“The Government has something called the catapult programme similar to this, but it tends to be larger businesses. This is the first time I have seen it done with smaller SMEs.

“The apprenticeship here is something we can look at doing across the rest of the country.

“Where the MCMT leads, the rest of the country should look to follow.”

Mr Berry said his grandparents had lived near Craven Arms, and added that the quality of life offered in Shropshire should be used to entice both businesses and their workforces.

The relocation of HSBC’s retail banking operation to London could also be beneficial to Shropshire.

“I know this is one of the most beautiful places in the country to live. We need to ensure that we encourage highly technical businesses here to take advantage of the workforce, and of that great quality of life.

“These jobs coming from the South East to the Midlands Engine means people will take the opportunity to look to invest in this area.

“But they won’t invest unless the skills base they need is located here.”

The centre will provide a high-tech environment for people to learn from engineering experts on the latest technology.

Mr Berry received a guided tour of the MCMT during his visit, taking in dedicated fabrication, lathe, metrology, milling, robotics and vehicle trimming sections, a specialist CNC Zone with more than £1 million of machines donated by Engineering Technology Group.

He also met with the first cohort of apprentices to talk about their initial experiences, their passion for engineering and manufacturing and how the centre will help them in their careers.

Matthew Snelson, managing director of the Marches Centre of Manufacturing and Technology, continued: “We are doing something completely different here to address a real challenge for our local businesses and the regional economy.

“Four companies have come together and put their money where their collective mouths are and, with the backing of Government and the Marches LEP, we have developed what we believe is a world class training centre that will address both the skills and the competency gaps facing industry.”

“The response from local employers has been great so far, with 12 companies already part of our first recruitment drive and a further 30 in the pipeline for future cohorts.

“It was great to show the minister around, talk him through our vision and what we are looking to achieve. He’s welcome to come back for our official launch on November 10, along with hopefully a further 200 guests all keen to get involved.”

The MCMT has already received significant support from industry partners, who are donating equipment or providing their expertise to learners and companies accessing the centre.

These include ABB Robotics, Engineering Technology Group, FBC Manby Bowdler, Filtermist, Hexagon Metrology, Mechatronics and Zwick Roell.