A formal ceremony at the Thomas Dudley factory site in Tipton marked the start of work on the forthcoming Elite Centre for Manufacturing Skills. The centre, which will focus on developing casting skills, is to be built by Midlands contractor Shaylor Group on the site of a former office block.

The £12m project is part of a wider drive to improve the manufacturing skills base of the Black Country. The overall initiative involves local partners from academia and industry, including Dudley College, the University of Wolverhampton and casting company Thomas Dudley. Trade federations and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership are also involved.

Employer-led training will be delivered not only in Tipton, but also from centres in Dudley, Wolverhampton and West Bromwich. The Dudley site will be a purpose-built training centre focusing on foundry and pattern making skills, with access to industrial facilities at the nearby Thomas Dudley foundry. Work has also started on the Wolverhampton centre on the site of the former Springfield brewery.

The project aims to provide world-class training facilities that will support the delivery of a wide variety of qualifications, from apprenticeships through to Degree Apprenticeships, designed to improve productivity and growth in the manufacturing sector.

Think Sandwell wishes success to all the people and organisations involved making the centre happen. To find out how we can help with your training and development needs, visit our Business Services pages.