A NEW £1.8million electric vehicle (EV) and retrofit training centre is heading to Coventry College.
It will help West Midlands employers rise to the industrial challenges of climate change, prepare learners for careers in emission-free motoring and build the homes of the future.
The dedicated training centre was launched as part of the college’s ‘Charge Up Your Future’ campaign and was made possible by capital investment from the Government’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF).
It will be the first site of its type in Coventry and Warwickshire and is expected to open in March 2022 alongside a suite of new programmes.
They will provide businesses with the skills and knowledge to capitalise on industry opportunities and students with practical experience under the bonnets of electric vehicles.
The Government’s two-step plan to reduce carbon emissions – as it heads towards net zero targets – includes phasing out the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030 before extending to new hybrid vehicle sales in 2035.
Charge Up Your Future will be delivered under the Skills Accelerator programme, part of the Government’s blueprint for reshaping the technical skills system – with a total of £5million awarded to Coventry and Warwickshire colleges to ensure the region’s educational provision meets the demand for skills.
The specialist programmes will include training around electric and hybrid vehicles, battery development and deployment, hydrogen awareness, electric vehicle charging points, retrofitting buildings, domestic energy assessment and photovoltaics – the conversion of light into electricity.
The college is also looking to partner with garages, dealerships, and manufacturers which sell or make electric and hybrid models to provide vehicles for students to work on to develop their skills.
An employer event will be held between 9am and 11am on Friday, February 11, to answer questions from local businesses and provide more details on the centre and programmes.
Gemma Knott, Coventry College’s vice-principal for business growth, engagement and partnerships, said: “We are joining the drive towards a zero-carbon future by providing businesses in the region with the expertise they need to do their bit, while capitalising on the opportunities that this growing industry will bring to the region’s strong manufacturing presence.”
She added the college was thrilled with the industry-leading centre which – with in-depth and intensive training opportunities – put the college at the heart of one of the leading green industrial centres in the UK.
People wanting to book a place at Friday’s ‘Charge Up Your Future Employer’ event can email [email protected] or call 024 7679 1700.
Go to coventrycollege.ac.uk/charge for more.
