Newark College launch state-of-the-art automotive workshop for apprentices
Automotive apprentices from across the area are set to benefit from a new state-of-the-art workshop.
Newark College unveiled it's new automotive workshop at a launch event last week in front of representatives from across the industry.
The facility has been designed with future-proofing in mind, allowing students to gain knowledge in a curriculum which will adapt to the vast changes being made in vehicle technology, from diesel and petrol to electric and hydrogen, and the skills required to maintain and repair these complex systems.
Mark Locking, principal and chief executive of the Lincoln College Group, unveiled a plaque alongside Steve Nash, chief executive of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) to officially open the £400,000 workshop.
Mr Locking said “Today celebrates an important milestone for Newark College — nationally, the Automotive Apprentice Centre is the benchmark for training.
"All of this is driven around providing more opportunities for the young people of Newark and Sherwood to become skilled in the area, instead of going elsewhere. It's an investment in the community.
“This excellent facility will deliver extraordinary training for our apprentices and study programme learners, combating skill shortages with industry-standard equipment creating a highly-skilled and qualified workforce.”
Construction began in the summer of 2022 and finished in November with staff receiving specialist training at the start of this year.
Steve Nash said: “We were established in 1920 to put professional standards into an industry that was just emerging.
"For the past 100 years we've been developing pretty much the same technology but the automotive industry is now at a change point — as a result of the new technologies; Autonomous, Connected, Electric, Shared.
"All of this requires new skills and this fantastic facility is exceptionally well-equipped to provide such skills.
"In a competitive employment market, investments like this new facility in Newark will help us demonstrate that young people can be confident to join a dynamic, exciting industry that can provide the highest quality, lifelong learning and development opportunities.”
The Newark workshop holds specialist equipment including industry-standard two-post and four-post vehicle lifts, an advanced diagnostic computer and wheel alignment system.
Peter Jackson, learning and skills lead for automotive engineering said: "If you go back five or ten year, garages probably had better equipment than colleges, there's absolutely no chance of that being the case now.
"When we talk about electric cars for example, that technology isn't new, it's already here. As a mechanic we are pretty good at wading in and having a go, but if you do that with an electric vehicle it's ridiculously dangerous.
"Now we have the best and latest technologies that will enhance and enable us to deliver the best qualifications to comply with the rapidly evolving industry."
The workshop was built in partnership with IMI, Heller Gutmann, Block Automotive, Halfords, Hickleys, Lindums and Newark and Sherwood District Council.
