Gavin Williamson sees first-hand how high-quality technical training is boosting skills and jobs
Today (20 August) Education Secretary Gavin Williamson visited the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) where cutting edge technology is being used to drive innovations in manufacturing as well as offering training and apprenticeships in a range of crucial fields.
Since his appointment, Mr Williamson has made clear that technical education and training has played second fiddle to traditional academic options for too long, and as the first Education Secretary to personally take charge of this brief, he will make sure it is a priority for this Government.
On the visit the Education Secretary took a tour of the AMRC, which is based in Sheffield, including Factory 2050, a state of the art facility that sees partners like Boeing and McLaren Automotive, as well as smaller local employers using advanced technologies like robotics and virtual reality to develop innovative manufacturing techniques.
The centre also provides high-quality apprenticeship training and higher education in engineering and manufacturing designed to deliver the skills top firms like Boeing need to compete globally.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, said:
On the visit Mr Williamson met with University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre apprentices who work in local companies and Boeing’s European production facility in Sheffield, seeing first-hand how their training is giving them the skills they need to forge great careers in the region.
He also tried out some of the impressive technologies on show at the AMRC, including augmented and virtual reality simulations, and learned about a project to help small and medium enterprises by retrofitting them with low-cost digital technologies.
Boeing opened its production facility in Sheffield in 2018 - the company’s first manufacturing site in Europe. The £40 million, 6,200-square-metre facility, employs 70 people, more than 30 of which are apprentices. It offers high quality apprenticeship opportunities through the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre in machining and technical support including at advanced, higher, degree and postgraduate levels apprenticeships.
Professor Koen Lamberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, said:
Chris Greaves, Head of the Integrated Manufacturing Group at the University of Sheffield AMRC welcomed the Education Secretary to Factory 2050, telling him it is the place where digital meets manufacturing, helping companies de-risk and adopt Industry 4.0 technologies.
Chris Greaves said:
The Education Secretary also visited Grace Owen Nursery School in Sheffield, part of the Park Hill Estate, one of the city’s most disadvantaged areas.
As a maintained nursery school, Grace Owen receives supplementary funding from the Department for Education in recognition of the role it plays supporting some of the most disadvantaged children in the country. Nearly 40 per cent of the children who attend Grace Owen are eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium, compared to the national average of 11.4%.
The government announced an additional investment, worth £24 million, for maintained nursery schools in February, giving them certainty for the 2019-20 academic year, ahead of a Spending Review.
Mr Williamson met with headteacher Nancy Farrow and nursery staff to discuss their work to engage with families in the estate and surrounding area.
The Education Secretary added: