Partner Article

£12 million Teesside engineering centre taking shape

Teesside’s £12 million Centre of Engineering Excellence is taking shape with backing from leading North East businesses.

Companies including Huntsman, Johnson Matthey, Lotte Chemical UK, Caterpillar UK, Tees Components, Sabic, Amec Foster Wheeler, Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, PD Ports, NIFCO and Sembcorp Utilities are playing a key role in making sure the centre is geared up to deliver the skills needed by local industry.

The STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Centre is being built by Esh Build for Middlesbrough College, and will play a key role in bridging the engineering skills gap in the region.

The centre will specialise in advanced manufacturing, process oil and gas, pharmaceutical, digital warehousing, logistics and engineering disciplines.

Training courses will be available for those already employed in industry wanting to improve their skills, as well as for those with no prior experience but who are keen to land a job in the sector.

Zoe Lewis, principal and chief executive, and Ian Smith, STEM director, this week watched as roof panels were lifted onto the impressive steel structure.

Zoe said: “The new STEM Centre is a natural progression of the relationship Middlesbrough College has had with the area’s industry for many years – we’re just taking it to another level to guarantee that Middlesbrough College remains at the forefront of skills development.

“The college has seen an 80% rise in the number of apprentices we train in the STEM sector compared to last year, and whatever a company’s training needs, from advanced manufacturing to business management, we can help - the STEM Centre will allow us to do that in state-of-the-art facilities built specifically to meet the needs of industry.

“By working in partnership with the employers on the advisory board we are making sure that the thousands of people who will be trained in the centre will get the skills they need to secure work in the sector.

“It’s wonderful seeing two years of planning starting to come to fruition and we can’t wait until the doors open next year.”

The centre will simulate a typical process industrial setting and those attending will be expected to complete behavioural safety training.

A control room is also being incorporated and will be used to monitor and operate the processes, including a fully functional control desk overlooking the process hall with operator work stations.

Courses will be available for students of all abilities, from entry level to HND and apprenticeships, and companies will be able to commission work, including manufacturing.

Ian explained how the centre will operate as a simulated COMAH site – Control of Major Accident Hazards – and operational procedures will be in force to raise awareness and develop the very important behaviours required in industry to prevent and mitigate the effects of major accidents involving dangerous substances, such as chemicals, petroleum gas and explosives.

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