Langley College has joined the green energy revolution by launching a new Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre this week to train the clean, green mechanics of the future. The £80,000 investment in the centre has been funded by the Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Government’s Local Growth Fund and will become a hub for green vehicle training, utilising the latest technology and systems, which are fast becoming mainstream in the motor vehicle industry.
Gillian May, CEO and Group Principal of Windsor Forest Colleges Group sees the new centre as the start of the development of a green curriculum and commented: “We know the motor vehicle industry is changing rapidly, and this training centre, which is one of just a handful in the south-east, will make Langley the go-to centre for upskilling employees in the trade and will ensure our students are ahead of the curve.” She continued: “This is just the start of our green technology agenda, we have ambitious plans to develop our curriculum, ensuring our students, whether school leavers or adults, will have the necessary skills and understanding of green technologies for the future”.
Katharine Horler, Chair of the Skills Advisory Panel from Berkshire LEP, commented on the importance of continued investment in relevant skills for the region. She said: “As we progress towards the government’s deadline, which will end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in the UK by 2030, we must equip current mechanics and those newly training in the industry with the skills needed to maintain decarbonised cars and vans. These skills are in demand, and Langley College will be a keynote centre for the industry.”
Alison Webster, Chief Executive of Berkshire LEP, officially opened the centre this week. She said: “We’re delighted to have funded the new Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Training Centre at Langley College. The Further Education and Training sector has a valuable role to play in the achievement of our sustainability goals, and at Berkshire LEP, we recognise the need to support the provision of training to help people acquire the skills to work in a future green career. We are delighted to be able to support the College in training the next generation of auto technicians in Berkshire.”
Alison Webster was joined by Gillian and her expert team to launch the event this week, which was also attended by Paul Britton, CEO of Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce. Paul endorsed the college’s agenda in upskilling the mechanics of the future.
Langley College has a long-established reputation for providing quality training for young people as well as upskilling automotive engineers from small and medium-sized garages and larger organisations in Berkshire.
The College will deliver three new qualifications in the centre, all accredited by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles.
For more information about automotive engineering courses at Langley College, visit the website at www.windsor-forest.ac.uk or come to the Langley College open day on the 24th May 2022 from 4.30 – 7pm.
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