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Double boost for North East Low Carbon industry

The North East is set to further cement its position as a UK leader in the low carbon vehicle industry through the development of the country’s first dedicated training centre and test track.

Gateshead College’s Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation will deliver a wide range of low carbon vehicles skills aimed at the automotive industry.

Students at the facility will be trained in battery assembly, manufacturing, testing, charging and safety, and will run alongside the LCV Skills training already available at Gateshead College.

The new education centre will be housed in a new £9.8 million building in Washington, alongside the North of England’s first Performance Track.

These two facilities will form the hub of the new Low Carbon Enterprise Zone, which is expected to create 7,000 jobs over the next decade.

Mick Brophy, Managing Director of Business, Innovation & Development at Gateshead College, said: “If Britain is to continue to lead the world in the development and adoption of cleaner vehicles, we must also lead in training the people who will design, build and service them.

“The Academy will support the growth of a new automotive industry, delivering the skill sets needed for these vital green-collar jobs.”

The Performance track will be available to both low carbon and conventional vehicles for development, testing and trialling, and will be a fantastic resource for both automotive and academic resource.

Dr Colin Herron, low carbon vehicle specialist and visiting professor at Sunderland University added: “This investment will deliver invaluable support to the emerging low carbon vehicle industry, from training and research through to motorsport, manufacturing and supply chain initiatives.”

The North East automotive industry directly employs 20,000 people, as well as a further 7,000 in support roles, and is forecast to soon be worth over £1 billion.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .