Motor boost for North East

Nissan's Sunderland plant already employs almost 5,000 people

The first regional centre of a new academy to boost national training in the automotive sector will be in the north-east of England.

The first "spokes" of the centre will be created in the North East and the West Midlands in October 2003.

Two initial pilot courses have already been developed to focus on the training at a managerial level.

The academy, which is funded by £15 million of Government funds, will have a central hub in the Midlands with delivery spokes in the nine English regions and three devolved administrations.

The academy will set up a curriculum of training programmes to develop current and new courses for shop floor to top level management.

A nationally recognised accredited qualification will be awarded upon completion of the course.

'Global stage'

Speaking at the inaugural lecture of the Academy, Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "The automotive sector in the North East has really taken off in the last twenty years with Nissan's Sunderland plant being the most efficient in Europe.

"I am confident that the 13,000 people employed by the automotive industry in the region will want to continually up skill to remain world-beaters.

"UK manufacturing can not compete on the global stage on the basis of low wage and nor should it want to."

"It must compete on the basis of new technologies, new processes and skills-all key strands of the government's manufacturing strategy.

"This Academy will train the industry to have cutting edge skills to create cutting edge products.

'Huge rewards'

"The regional spokes will play a crucial role in ensuring that the best training services all over the country are being used to their full potential.

"If this is done effectively then the geographically diverse automotive industry will reap huge rewards."

Duncan Simpson, Chief Automotive Industry Officer of manufacturing union Amicus, said: "We are delighted with this news. Any initiative that helps this industry and our members is to be applauded.

"This is a massive step forward. The academy will help the long-term future of our industry and it deserves our full support and backing."

It has not been decided yet where in the North East the centre will be based.