£750,000 workshop opens at Rugby College

The new industry-standard facility, supported by government funding, will provide hands-on experience mirroring a real-world automotive workplace

£750,000 workshop opens at Rugby College
Photo: Bigstock

A new £750,000 vehicle workshop will give Rugby College students a hands-on experience of the automotive workplace, preparing them with the skills needed by today’s and tomorrow’s industries.

The facility, officially opened by the Mayor of Rugby, Cllr Barbara Brown, and WCG CEO & Principal, Sara-Jane Watkins, was designed by Warwickshire College Group (WCG) to mirror a real-world garage.

The funding for the Motor Vehicle Workshop was secured from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which was awarded via Rugby Borough Council to support local skills and economic growth. The launch event was attended by local employers, council representatives, and education leaders.

Sara-Jane Watkins, CEO and Principal of WCG, confirmed the college’s commitment to high-quality skills training: “Further education plays a vital role in building the skills that our businesses and economy need to thrive. This new workshop will future-proof our provision in automotive and engineering and ensure our learners experience a training environment that truly reflects industry practice. We are committed to working with employers of all sizes to make sure our curriculum develops the future workforce they need.”

Gary Elson, Head of School for Motor Vehicle and Engineering at WCG, added: “This investment gives us the foundation to train the next generation of automotive engineers, while also supporting upskilling for the current workforce. We want employers to see this as a place where their voice shapes curriculum – from co-designing courses to providing real-world briefs that prepare students for the realities of the workplace.”

The event also highlighted WCG’s Innovate UK Further Education Innovation Fund (FEIF) project, which focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in identifying skills gaps and planning for the transition to a net-zero economy.

Cllr Ish Mistry, Deputy Leader of Rugby Borough Council, said: “We are proud to support Warwickshire College Group in bringing this fantastic new workshop to Rugby.”

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