£4 million investment announced for West Midlands manufacturing and engineering training
The funding aims to help people gain the skills regional employers need
A £4 million investment has been announced to help people in the West Midlands train in advanced manufacturing and engineering.
West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said the funding aims to equip people with the skills employers need and help them benefit from growth in the region.
The announcement forms part of his plans to support industry and improve access to technical training.
Richard Parker said: “For too long, too many people have been locked out of the opportunities created on their doorstep. I'm changing that. This investment will help local people gain the skills that modern manufacturing and engineering employers are crying out for.
“The West Midlands has always been a place that makes, invents and exports. We have the talent, the businesses and the ambition to lead Britain's new industrial age.
“My job is to make sure local people benefit from that success. That's why we're investing in skills, backing our colleges and ensuring we build a stronger, more prosperous West Midlands for everyone.”
Alongside the funding announcement, partners signed a West Midlands Combined Authority-led College Compact, setting out how the authority and colleges will work together on skills provision.
Partners will work together to incorporate digital skills and artificial intelligence into the design and delivery of courses.
According to the combined authority, colleges are planning more than 37,000 enrolments for the 2026/27 academic year, an increase of more than 11,000 on the previous year.
These include Level 2, Level 3 and higher qualifications in areas such as construction, digital skills and health.
The manufacturing and engineering investment is separate from the Mayor’s £75 million commitment to construction skills, which aims to meet demand for 4,000 construction workers a year.