Defence manufacturing skills boost for college

A college is to receive government funding to help students learn about defence manufacturing.

Telford College in Shropshire is included among five successful bids under a £50m investment programme and aims to work with local defence engineering firms.

The college will focus on skills including engineering, cyber security, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing.

Principal and CEO Lawrence Wood said: "I am delighted that Telford College can play our part in supporting the defence industry at this critical time."

The bid was submitted jointly with Lincoln College and both will receive a share of funding.

Telford MP Shaun Davies said the money would be "transformational" for the college, the town and the students themselves.

A number of defence firms have a home in Shropshire and Davies said the sector was "the backbone of our local economy".

In January Telford College formed a partnership arrangement with Babcock, a defence, aerospace and engineering firm which has a base in the town.

That partnership already gives some students the chance to learn alongside Babcock mentors, with the aim of securing long-term employment.

Wood said being part of the successful bid meant the college could "support Telford and Wrekin's defence industry employers in a coordinated way, ensuring they have access to more people with the high-quality skills they need".

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