Earlier this month (14 April), it was announced that Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group will be one of four Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence Colleges in England.

This followed a successful bid to the Department for Education.

As a TEC, NSCG will provide employer-led programmes, bridging critical skill gaps and creating direct routes into well-paid, highly skilled employment for young people and adults.  

Stafford MP Leigh Ingham said of the college's success: "I think that this is the recognition that Stafford deserves. 

"I think the Government investing at this level in our area is the recognition we deserve, because of the reputation that's been created through the college.

"It's genuinely a huge badge of honour for not just the college and the town, but also the industries that are located around here.

A key component of the TEC will be a purpose-built Advanced Manufacturing Hub which will be located adjacent to the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Institute of Technology on Castle Street. 

It will open in 2028.

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The new curriculum will give students the chance to learn about automation and robotics, industry 4.0 and smart factories, additive manufacturing (3D Printing), clean energy and low-carbon manufacturing.  

The college will aim to close the gap between the West Midlands and North West manufacturing corridors and will be collaborating with other colleges and respected industry partners such as GE Vernova, Hitachi, Indurent, Moog, Siemens and the Applied Materials, Research & Commercialisation Company (AMRICC).   

Georgina Barnard, Vice Principal at NSCG said: "We're thrilled with the news and very excited about what it will bring for the local area and beyond.

"For young people we are offering a different route into technical education, particularly at the higher level, that's more flexible, that's more hands-on and practical, and that's very closely linked to what employers need.

 "We have excellent links with local employers that are crying out for skills in advanced manufacturing areas" .

This article is sponsored by NSCG.

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