Ed Balls meets Alstom apprentices during Rugby visit
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Shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, made a surprise visit to Warwickshire Colleges new flagship Power Industry Academy on 21 January where he met with staff and students, including Alstom apprentices.
The new facility educates engineers in power generation manufacture, to address the energy gap and is working closely with Alstom Power UK to train apprentices. Alstom Power currently have two apprentices at the college full-time who had the opportunity for a brief chat with Mr Balls during his visit. Mr Balls was also introduced to Barry Cramp, Apprentice Officer from Alstoms Steam Turbine Training Centre in Rugby.
During his visit, Mr Balls commended the way in which the college has worked closely with industrial partners to create a new facility in which to support learners and businesses in the region. He was interested in speaking to the local power industry; Alstom, Converteam and Quartzelec and also in finding out more about Alstoms involvement with the College, the apprenticeship programmes that we run and our connection to the Enginering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).
Mr Balls said: The college represents a cluster of excellence and investment brought about through effective partnership working. The state-of-the-art facilities I have visited today such as the training restaurant and Power Industry Academy make a big difference to local people, producing the kind of high quality training, which attracts learners and further business investment."
The power industry is a massive growth sector. The college provides a tremendous opportunity for businesses to develop skills for the future and for this region to lead the way in helping to meet the worlds energy needs. You have got a brilliant partnership here.