WMG Academy for Young Engineers to open in Solihull

Chancellor George Osborne has announced that Solihull’s WMG Academy for Young Engineers is one of the latest University Technical Colleges to be approved under the government’s academies programme.

Sponsored by the University of Warwick and leading employers, and backed by Solihull Council and a range of local partners, the new school will provide up to 640 young people aged 14-19 from Birmingham and Solihull the opportunity to study engineering and science in a business-like and business led environment alongside the national curriculum.

Key employer partners for the new Warwick Manufacturing Group Academy include Jaguar Land Rover, Controls and Data Services (formerly known as Aero Engine Controls) and Arup, whose input and expertise will shape the curriculum and the project-based learning approach of the new Academy. Pupils will take a problem-solving, practical approach to learning by working on real-world problems, set by the employer partners.

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Chairman and Founder of WMG said: “Reaching a younger generation, engaging them in innovative new learning environments and preparing and inspiring them to create the high-value products of tomorrow is the only way that we can ensure the UK’s ability to compete in the global market place for the future.

“We are delighted to be starting work on opening the second WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Solihull. Across the region we have some of the best companies and supply chains for manufacturing, many of whom are eager to become part of this exciting new approach to education.

“We have worked with our partners to create a truly unique curriculum and learning style that will ensure students across Solihull and Birmingham have access to a bespoke learning experience that not only gives them high-value technical skills but also vital employability and business skills; preparing them for further or higher education, apprenticeships or to move directly into careers and keeping manufacturing knowledge and excellence within the region.”

Chief Executive for the WMG Academy Trust, Dr Richard Hutchins said: “We are delighted to have had the green light from government for our second WMG Academy. The overwhelmingly positive response from employers, students and parents to our first WMG Academy in Coventry has paved the way for us to develop a second one in Solihull. There is a clear desire from both local and global employers to find employable young people with both technical and business skills. They realise that they have a role to play within this, which starts within education.

“Our goal is to enable local students from across Birmingham and Solihull to access to the same high-quality, innovative teaching we will be providing in Coventry; giving them the chance to gain technical qualifications alongside the national curriculum and gaining important business skills such as team-work, problem-solving and leadership.”

The WMG Academy for Young Engineers Solihull is scheduled to open in a brand new building based in North Solihull in September 2016.

Dr Ralf Speth, CEO, Jaguar Land Rover commented: “Jaguar Land Rover is proud to be at the forefront of industry engagement with the WMG Academy for Young Engineers (Solihull). The company will support the UTC in a range of ways, from assistance with the curriculum to board membership, provision of equipment, support for visits and provision of technical specialists who will contribute to teaching. The UTC will help to address very important issues at the beginning of the educational cycle, namely exciting young people about engineering careers and developing a pool of talent which the industry can rely upon for future generations. It will also be an important signal and flagship for investors in the local area whether they are suppliers to us or other high value manufacturing and engineering companies and sectors. We look forward to our continued association with WMG Academy for Young Engineers.”

Leader of Solihull Council, Bob Sleigh, said: “This is fantastic news for the borough, bringing world-class engineering training within reach of our young people. With both WMG Academy and industry support I’m confident the UTC will ensure the borough, and the region, will have enough top quality engineers to continue to maintain the area’s pre-eminence in automotive and high value engineering. I sincerely hope many of our young people, particularly those close-by in the north will consider a career in engineering and look to the UTC to give them the best start possible.”

Read more: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/news/ArtMID/820/ArticleID/408/WMG-Academy-for-Young-Engineers-to-open-in-Solihull-