TAMESIDE College says its new ‘state-of-the-art’ facilities will not just benefit its students but the local economy too.
The Ashton-under-Lyne college has opened a new automotive centre, animal management centre and brickwork workshops.
VIP guests were invited to an official unveiling at its Beaufort Road site last Friday (May 2).
The project is part of the college’s ambitious plans to become one of the leading training providers for 16 to 18-year-olds in the North West.
They say by providing its students with the “highest quality facilities”, it will equip them for their future careers and simultaneously develop the local economy.
The Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Betty Affleck, and Tameside Council leader, Councillor Eleanor Wills, officially opened the centres and delivered speeches to those in attendance.
Guests – who included employers, head teachers, college governors, senior leadership and contractors – were given a tour of the new facilities, with students hosting demonstrations and taking questions.
The three facilities include the latest industry-standard equipment, such as hybrid vehicle technology for students to learn new ‘green’ skills, a paint-spraying booth, outdoor animal pens, and indoor and outdoor brickwork areas to create a “realistic working environment for students”.
Jackie Moores, principal and CEO at Tameside College and Clarendon Sixth Form College, said: “This transformative building project has given us some of the best Further Education facilities in the North West, allowing us to grow our curriculum, meet the needs of thousands more learners and employers, and work in partnership with our local authority to support the region’s future workforce.
“From brickwork and automotive to animal management, these new, state of the art facilities have been designed with employer input to deliver real world skills and progression opportunities.
“They’re already making a huge impact, with record student numbers across the curriculum, showing just how vital this investment is for the local community and economy.”
The Civic Mayor hailed the opening of the facilities as ‘another major milestone’ in the borough’s long-term ambition to offer the best specialist college facilities in Greater Manchester.
“This development marks the successful completion of Vision Tameside, a transformational project more than a decade in the making,” said Cllr Affleck.
“Vision Tameside has delivered outstanding new spaces that are already preparing young people for the demands of the 21st century economy.
“It’s a proud moment for the borough and a clear sign that Tameside is ready to compete, grow and thrive in the years ahead.”