We officially unveiled our cutting-edge £3.5m future automotive training hub

We invested £3.5m to bring a new Automotive Technologies Centre (ATC) to Barnsley, featuring the latest in automotive training technology and bringing electric and hybrid vehicle facilities to the college.

Boasting top-spec training equipment, the centre provides the future-facing technologies and facilities to bridge the gap between the classroom and the garage. Students can practice their craft safely using virtual ‘rigs’ that simulate real-world work scenarios and motor vehicle faults.

The centre is kitted out with the latest industry-standard equipment from Snap On, Block Automotive and LJ Create, ensuring students glean the skills and knowledge needed to bridge local skills gaps and produce the highest calibre future workforce.

Facilities include a glass-enclosed Electric/Hybrid training room with the latest vehicle trainer technology and cutting-edge vehicle refrigerant handling equipment.

The ATC will also provide us with the ability to advance industry skills through the use of VR and AR technology in the coming months.

Local businesses will be given the opportunity to upskill their staff using the market-leading technologies and training resources at the centre, positively impacting the wider community and fostering positive relationships between local education and businesses.

David Akeroyd, our Principal and CEO, said: “I am thrilled that we have officially opened our new, sector-leading automotive centre enhancing our Outstanding skills and education offering in the automotive landscape.

“We are proud to say the new centre has enabled us to deliver a learning experience for our students which is truly best in class, presenting more opportunities and unlocking new heights of success for both our students and the wider community.

“This hub of technical excellence in automotive training wouldn’t have been possible without the support of several members of our team and the collaboration of our partners.

“Thank you to our construction partners, workshop partners, and all our suppliers and community partners who have contributed to making this new centre a success. I’d also like to thank our brilliant staff for their insight and tireless work to ensure this building is the very best it could be for our students.”

Darren Speight, Course Leader in Automotive Technologies, added: “The industry, more than ever, needs the students we produce to be multi-skilled and experienced in using the latest industry-standard tech. We are very proud to say our new centre is enabling us to achieve this and more.

“The centre has given us industry relevance, we’re now class-leading and can proudly say we can now offer the same level of excellence in our training facilities as some of the main players in the industry.”

You’ll have the opportunity to view the new ATC at our next open day on Wednesday 18 October 2023, 4.00pm – 7.00pm. More information on this event is available on our Events page.