Nearly 800 apprentices have begun training at a new £4m college in Filton, near Bristol, designed to prepare people for careers in engineering and manufacturing.
The Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence College, known as Amtec, opened on Monday. Its employer-led courses are being delivered alongside companies including Airbus, GKN, Rolls-Royce and BAE.
Training shaped by industry
Apprentices will work closely with major firms while developing practical skills and post-16 qualifications. The college is intended to help meet demand for skilled workers across the West of England’s aerospace, engineering and manufacturing sectors.
Among the students is GKN apprentice Holly Lewis, who is currently working on fitting and wing assembly. She hopes to build those skills into a future role in the aerospace industry.
Rolls-Royce apprentice John Shawcroft joined after working in a chocolate factory, where he became interested in machine maintenance. He said the college’s facilities had made a strong impression.
Amtec is one of four new technical college campuses opening across the country. Its launch follows Weston College Group being designated as one of the country’s Technical Excellence Colleges, allowing extra investment in training for sectors where specialist skills are in high demand.
Why it matters for Britain
The college gives young people in the West of England a direct route into skilled work with some of the region’s biggest engineering and aerospace employers. It could also help local companies build the specialist workforce they need to grow.
