Partnership agreed between Stainless Metalcraft and West Suffolk College for Cambridgeshire apprentice training centre

Stainless Metalcraft (Metalcraft) and West Suffolk College (WSC) have partnered to manage and operate the North Cambridgeshire Training Centre (NCTC) – a new facility being developed on land owned by the Metalcraft business in Chatteris.

The partnership sees Metalcraft – which was founded in 1864 and has trained its own apprentices for over 100 years – join forces with West Suffolk College, one of the country’s leading further education and apprenticeship providers. WSC is currently supporting nearly 13,000 students – including almost 2,000 apprentices and over 1,000 employers – from its sites across East Anglia.

Under the terms of the contract, which is for an initial period of five years, WSC will be responsible for the management of the centre and providing technical, virtual and hands-on training for between 80 and 130 students a year, as well as building relationships with local employers. Courses will range from introductory to Higher Level Apprenticeships.

The range of courses on offer will be informed by demand from local businesses, with priority areas including advanced manufacturing and engineering, and a focus on future-skills training, including robotics, automation and composite materials manufacturing.

Martin Lawrence, commercial director, at Metalcraft said: “Training our own people has been a key part of the Metalcraft success story over recent years, with almost 50% of our workforce – including members of the senior management team – beginning their careers as apprentices.

“The NCTC is designed to fill a gap in the vocational training offer in the North Cambridgeshire Fens, creating opportunities to up-skill local people and delivering a workforce ready to step into rewarding careers in growth industries over the coming years.

“We received a number of high-quality responses to our tender but WSC’s application stood out due to their extensive experience and expertise delivering a range of post-16 training programmes. They demonstrated a clear understanding of the local area and, with their award-winning track record, we’re looking forward to working closely with the team to bring our vision for the NCTC to life.”

Laraine Moody, vice principal at WSC, said: “We’re delighted to have secured this contract, which promises to be a game changer for the local economy. At WSC, our mission is to use education as a catalyst for positive social change and prosperity for the communities we serve. This ethos fits well with Metalcraft’s vision for the NCTC. We’re excited by the potential offered by this new apprentice-ship centre and looking forward to developing relationships with local employers to deliver the skills required.”

Alongside Metalcraft, local organisations involved include The Active Learning Trust, Cambs Skills and ARU Peterborough.