£10m academy for low carbon vehicle skills training opens doors to learners
Green training news – by GreenWise staff
9th September 2011
The first dedicated centre to deliver low carbon vehicles skills training has opened its doors to students in the North East of England.
Gateshead College’s Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation (SASMI) is a £9.8 million state-of-the-art centre that will focus on
training in battery assembly, manufacturing, testing, charging and safety. It will include a test track for green vehicles.
The
green training centre and test track are part of the Government’s £200 million Low Carbon Enterprise Zone, which is expected to create 7,000 new jobs in the region over the next decade.
Green vehicle hubThe North East automotive sector, already almost a £1 billion industry, is a hub for sustainable vehicle development. Nissan’s Sunderland plant is based there and is where the Japanese carmaker will produce its LEAF electric family car. The company is also investing £200 milllion in an
advanced lithium-ion battery plant in the region. Other major companies located there include Smith Electric Vehicles, a leading supplier of commercial electric vehicles.
Commenting on the opening of the new training centre, Mick Brophy, managing director of Business, Innovation and Development at Gateshead College, said: "If Britain is to continue to lead the world in the development and adoption of cleaner vehicles, we must also lead in training the people who will design, build and service them. The academy will support the growth of a new automotive industry, delivering the skill sets needed for these vital green collar jobs."
Gateshead College already runs courses for low carbon vehicle skills, through its AutoSkills Centre. These include training for roadside rescue operators to safely deal with high voltage hybrid and electric vehicles.
The college said it is developing new courses dedicated to the production of EVs.
Like this story? Please subscribe to our free weekly e-newsletter at the top of the page for more content like this.
Related content:
Related links:
