32 new jobs created as state-of-the-art training centre opens second site

EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, on 12 April announced a boost for Birmingham, with the creation of 32 new jobs at its state-of-the-art technology training centre in Aston.The new roles are part of a further £5m investment into the centre, which is to expand into a second site and increase the number of apprentices it trains from 250 to over 400 a year when fully operational.This latest round of funding takes EEF’s total investment at the Birmingham-based apprentice training centre to £11m. The new jobs are across a range of areas including technical skills, teaching, administration and back office support. EEF is actively recruiting for these positions ahead of opening up the second site, which is scheduled to open its doors later this year.The new facility will house a wide range of areas devoted to developing technological skills, including robotics, electronics and rapid prototyping. It will boast an industry standard CAD (computer aided design) suite, an automated factory and an industry standard tool room.The move will keep the centre at the forefront of new manufacturing and engineering technologies, ensuring that apprentices continue to learn both traditional and the most cutting-edge techniques. This will fully equip them for a sustainable and exciting career in modern industry.The new centre will also host EEF’s soon-to-be-launched Leadership Institute and Manufacturing Academy, which will play a key role in ensuring UK manufacturing stays at the forefront of Industry 4.0 (the 4th industrial revolution).The technology training centre was officially opened in April 2014, by local MP Khalid Mahmood. In November last year it unveiled additional investment of £2m into providing nine additional new training sections containing £700,000 of high-tech equipment. It currently works in partnership with over 80 employers.