New Tipton training centre to create jobs

A £250,000 training centre will open in Tipton, creating 14 jobs. The Railway Street site, in Great Bridge, will be run by Dudley Training Limited.

This is a private company owned by Dudley College, and it will give courses in gas, electrical and construction trades.

The centre, once complete, will be called The Energy Training Hub. Documents submitted said seven full-time posts and seven part-time roles would be created at the new teaching hub, which will cover environmental technologies.

Bob Chapman, director of learning at the college, said: "The investment in the centre would be almost £250,000 including all the kit but not including the staff. It's going to be called The Energy Training Hub when it's finished. And it will create 14 jobs which is good news."

Courses at the centre will tie in with the college's new accolade as part of the National Academy for Environmental Technologies, Mr Chapman added.

"The exciting thing is the new environmental technologies we will be able to teach about — solar panels, heat pumps and all renewable energy technologies," he said. This is really good news for the West Midlands."

The training centre will give the site a new lease of life, Mr Chapman said.

"The site is currently empty industrial units with offices attached and it's been empty for a while," he said. "We're just about to sign for the premises in the next couple of days.

"We've had to apply for planning permission to change the use of the site from industrial for this training centre before we signed the lease agreement. Assuming we can secure the premises, we're delighted."

Ward Councillor Derek Rowley said: "The 14 jobs are a welcome boost in these times.

"And bringing back a derelict site into use is great for the regeneration of Great Bridge. For them to both be part of the same package is very welcome indeed."

Dudley College itself is meanwhile undergoing a multi-million pound expansion. The former fire station in Tower Street is being transformed as part of a £30 million town centre campus.