To make an enquiry, please start by making a selection below.

Announcement:

Businesses within the automotive sector are set to benefit from help to upskill their workforce at a dedicated forum at the MIRA Technology Institute (MTI) next month. The breakfast event on Friday 6 March 2020 is free to attend and open to companies within the automotive manufacturing or research and development sectors.

The event will explore how to harness apprenticeships to address future potential skills gaps, showcase the funding opportunities for small businesses, and demonstrate how SMEs can share their Apprenticeship Levy within their supply chain. Attendees can also access a guided tour of the facilities at the MTI which opened in 2018 to meet the needs of the rapidly changing automotive sector.

The MTI is the result of a unique collaboration led by North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, and its partners, HORIBA MIRA, Coventry University, the University of Leicester, and Loughborough University. Built with £9.5m investment from the UK Government’s Local Growth Fund via the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Ltd, the MTI is a specialist facility designed specifically to train the next generation of engineers in the latest automotive technology. The MTI is helping to create specialist skills in some of the new disruptive technology areas including electrification and driverless cars.

Lisa Bingley, Operations Director at the MTI said, “The pace of change within the automotive industry is being driven by the urgent need to address global temperature increases. The eyes of the world are currently trained on prime movers like those in the auto sector as they take on the challenge of net zero carbon emissions. The pressure is on the sector to think on its feet and respond to ambitious goals including the UK’s Government’s objective to ban the sale of petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles by 2035. The sector is only at the start of a seismic shift in the way it operates which will increasingly demand fresh thinking and new skills.

“We have had a really successful first year at the MTI and we’re pleased that we are already delivering a sustainable supply of future specialist technicians and engineers. We know that planning for change requires space and time away from the workplace so we hope that our forum will enable businesses to pause and think about the shape of their future workforce.”

Since it first opened its doors in 2018, the MTI has welcomed over 7,500 students and delegates. This includes over 630 studying for accredited qualifications from a Level 1 Institute of the Motor Industry certificate up to Masters’ degrees, and nearly 300 following apprenticeships at all levels. In addition, the MTI is now offering a degree-level engineering apprenticeship and this year is set to introduce a Master’s in Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Systems.

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Chair of the MTI Operations Board, and Principal and Chief Executive North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to find out more about the wide range of training and funding options available to them. The MTI represents a unique facility for the automotive industry at a pivotal point in its history.”

The event starts with breakfast at 8.30am during which specialist business development advisors from North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College and Coventry University will be on hand to discuss individual requirements.

Please register online here for your free ticket.