Training centre opens in Hartlebury

13:36 22nd April 2009

A £1.5 million vocational training centre has been opened in Hartlebury by the West Midlands regional minister, reports the Kidderminster Shuttle.

Opened by MP Ian Austin, the centre spans 20,000 sq ft on Hartlebury Trading Estate and will be used to provide specialist training facilities for electricians and plumbers.

The centre is operated by Access2 Trade Careers and has produced 50 jobs, with a planned extension set to generate an additional 20 positions.

Mr Austin told the paper: "This is an example of a company that, despite the economic downturn, is doing very well and providing people with the skills they need to get new jobs and develop further skills in the future."

He added that the region has suffered through a lack of skills training so the new centre could prove a real help in boosting local workforces and the wider economy.

There are currently 1,000 students enrolled at the college and the advanced facilities could encourage more people to seek a career change.

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, has announced the opening of a new training academy to produce engineers to work on the city's Crossrail project, according to the Guardian.