Essex is home to the first of a new breed of advanced engineering colleges – one which will be a model for other institutions across the UK.
The £2million centre run by Procat College in Basildon will train students from across Essex who with specialist equipment and techniques.
The Procat Advanced Engineering Centre is the result of a collaboration between the college, the Government, the City and Guilds exam body, and several  international companies in the hi-tech sector.
Neil Bates, chief executive and principal of the college said students’ employability would benefit from the facilities on offer at the new centre.
He said: “We understand how important it is to train our students on state-of-the-art equipment. This investment will ensure our students have access to practical training to provide a major boost to their careers.
“And by helping to provide the new generation of skilled technicians which is badly needed, the centre will greatly benefit the UK’s economy and future prosperity.”
Technically-advanced facilities at the centre include automation equipment, a robotic arm, a 3D printer in the new CAD/CAM room, new CNC machines, and new hydraulic systems.
The centre will also act as a testbed for the new City & Guilds curriculum for 14-19-year-olds, know as TechBac. It has been designed to provide high-quality professional and technical education, tailored to meet the practical requirements of employers.
Mr Bates said: “This is part of an ambition by ourselves and City & Guilds to develop a strong professional and technical route from Level 2 right through to degree level and beyond.”
Kirstie Donnelly, managing director of City & Guilds, said: “The experience and education learners receive at Procat is worlds away from the traditional image of a further education college.
“The college has managed to replicate a cutting-edge workplace environment that gives students real experience of working in their chosen field, rather than a purely theoretical knowledge, and it’s this environment that works so well for the type of qualifications we are developing.
“This partnership also gives us an opportunity to work directly with employers to develop the right, quality apprenticeship routes. City & Guilds and Procat share this vision to make vocational education an aspirational route through to a great career.”
The new centre will particularly focus on training students for the aviation, rail, industrial design, advanced manufacturing, motor vehicle, automative and electrical installation industries.