Equipment hire provider Speedy Services has signed the college’s ‘leadership pledge’ and has donated a significant volume of tools to the college as part of its commitment.
The new equipment includes measuring, inspection and workshop equipment; access steps, a workbench, drills, vice and grinders. It will help students and apprentices to develop and apply their practical engineering skills.
This will be used by students who are studying on the college’s one-year Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education (Cert HE) in High Speed Rail and Infrastructure, as well as by apprentices who are learning at the college with the backing of various industry employers.
Clair Mowbray, chief executive of the National College for High Speed Rail, says: “On behalf of the college and indeed all our current and future learners, I’d like to extend a huge thank you to Speedy Services for these generous donations.
“We are constantly striving to provide the best learning environment we can for our students and this new equipment will help us to take this a step further. I’m confident these donations will enhance the learning experience as we train and prepare Britain’s next generation of rail engineers and technicians. As an employer-led college, we also look forward to building a long-term relationship with Speedy Services alongside all employers who have signed our leadership pledge to date.”
The Birmingham site is one of two campuses for the college (the other campus is situated in Doncaster) where learners can specialise in advanced digital technology, command, control, communications, and civil engineering.
Paula Field, regional survey and safety manager at Speedy Services, adds: “Institutions like the National College for High Speed Rail are hugely important in helping our industry to tackle growing national skills gaps, particularly in the discipline of engineering. At Speedy Services, we’re keen to play our part in supporting this critical work and are delighted to play a part in helping develop skills for the country’s next generation of rail experts and leaders.”
The brand new National College for High Speed Rail was opened in September 2017.