Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre Set to Equip Students for the Future

An £8.1 million state-of-the-art training centre has officially opened at the City of Wolverhampton College, providing cutting-edge facilities for students in the Black Country. The City of Wolverhampton College Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre, located at the Wellington Road campus in Bilston, will offer specialized courses in engineering and automotive technology, with a focus on electric vehicles, robotics, and other growing industries.

Innovative Facilities and Industry-Focused Courses

The newly built centre boasts a range of modern facilities, including a 12-bay automotive workshop, an electric vehicle lab, and six fully equipped classrooms. These spaces will be essential for delivering hands-on training to students in emerging sectors, such as electric vehicles, helping them stay ahead in a rapidly changing job market.

Louise Fall, the new principal and chief executive of City of Wolverhampton College, expressed her excitement about the opportunities the centre will create for students. “This centre will benefit students for years to come,” she said.

Official Opening and Commemorative Plaques Unveiled

The official opening event, held on Wednesday, welcomed around 100 guests, including local dignitaries, industry leaders, and education officials. Commemorative plaques were unveiled by Councillor Stephen Simkins, leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council, and Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, to mark the occasion.

The launch of the Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre represents the first phase of the City of Wolverhampton Council’s ambitious Learning Quarter plan, designed to enhance educational facilities in the region. This new centre will consolidate all automotive and engineering courses from the college’s former Paget Road campus in Compton.

Funding and Vision for the Future

The centre was made possible through a £7.7 million investment from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), with the remaining funds provided by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership. Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, praised the facility for its industry-aligned training approach. “This fantastic new training facility will work hand in glove with the industry to provide courses that give people the best possible start to their working lives and the skills to progress in their chosen careers,” he said. 

Councillor Stephen Simkins also highlighted the significance of the centre, noting that students had already started their courses the previous week, at the beginning of the academic year. “It is wonderful to see the first students already taking advantage of the new facilities to train, not only for jobs in current industries, but also for new and growing sectors,” he remarked.