Perkins’ Learning Centre has received a £750,000 funding boost to enable it to expand the facility and extend its skills offering.

The East of England Development Agency (EEDA), supported by the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East), announced the funding for the expansion of the Perkins Learning Centre at the Peterborough facility.

The centre aims to train 6,500 people from Peterborough and the East of England over three years in cutting-edge production techniques and help increase the productivity of more of the region's businesses.

The £750,000 grant from EEDA will create an expanded high-tech, world-class in-industry training facility in R&D, design and production available to local people, businesses, educational establishments and other organisations. It will include a virtual reality modelling suite to simulate shop floor conditions.

The award follows Perkins’ decision to invest £35 million in its production facilities at Peterborough.

Hans Haefeli, president of Perkins Engines, said: “Perkins has demonstrated a significant commitment to keeping and growing its manufacturing capability in this region. Our aim is to drive-up productivity, quality and profitability while taking research, development and process engineering to new levels.

“This will have enormous implications for us in respect of skills - both now and in the future.  Through this partnership initiative and use of our world-class learning centre, we can effectively address the skills needs in a structured manner. 

“The learning centre will also allow us to work with secondary, further and higher education establishments supporting relevant courses and raising awareness of the range of opportunities available at Perkins. We will also use this facility to rekindle an enthusiasm for manufacturing and engineering amongst our students in the area.”

The project resulted from strong partnership working between the Perkins Learning Centre, EEDA, GO-East and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

Alison Webster, director of skills and economic participation at EEDA, said: “EEDA's £750,000 funding for the expanded training facility at Perkins will capture and enhance the benefit from private sector investment and be a boon to Peterborough's residents and businesses and the wider region.

“By supporting and enabling the company's training needs and making the training products available to other businesses and organisations EEDA is promoting the demand-led approach to training in-line with the government's Leitch Review recommendations. As well as this EEDA is helping a world-beating manufacturing company that is investing in long-term productivity stay competitive.”

Working with local colleges the centre will also develop the range of courses designed to improve the literacy, maths and IT skills of Perkins employees and the wider community in Peterborough. 

Chris Hilliard, director for Children and Learners at the Government Office for the East of England said: “This is excellent news for Peterborough and demonstrates how strong partnership working can push forward a project, which is vitally important to the local community. The Perkins Learning Centre is now on its way to becoming a world-class training centre.

“This project not only addresses the training needs of Perkins employees but also learners in the wider community. It is fundamental that we continue to invest in raising skills in Peterborough to create more opportunities for the community and develop the city's economic growth.”