Leading engineering firm in Chatteris and one of the country’s top apprenticeship providers have confirmed their partnership to manage a new training centre for apprentices
Stainless Metalcraft (Metalcraft) and West Suffolk College (WSC) have partnered to manage and operate the North Cambridgeshire Training Centre (NCTC) – a new facility being developed on land owned by the Metalcraft business in Chatteris.
The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Business Board provided £3.16m to fund the training school through the Local Growth Fund.
The partnership sees Metalcraft – which was founded in 1864 and has trained its own apprentices for over 100 years – join forces with West Suffolk College, one of the country’s leading further education and apprenticeship providers. WSC is currently supporting nearly 13,000 students – including almost 2,000 apprentices and over 1,000 employers – from its sites across East Anglia.
Under the terms of the contract, which is for an initial period of five years, WSC will be responsible for the management of the centre and providing technical, virtual and hands-on training for between 80 and 130 students a year, as well as building relationships with local employers. Courses will range from introductory to Higher Level Apprenticeships.
The range of courses on offer will be informed by demand from local businesses, with priority areas including advanced manufacturing and engineering, and a focus on future-skills training, including robotics, automation and composite materials manufacturing.
