Scarborough TEC to receive £92,000 funding for electric vehicle training

Scarborough TEC is one of two North Yorkshire colleges who will benefit from funding to provide electric vehicle training.

Scarborough TEC and York College will receive money secured by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership from the government’s Getting Building Fund.  News of funding for the green schemes coincides with today’s Clean Air Day, which promotes improved air quality across the UK.

York College will receive £150,000 to increase technical skills capabilities in electric vehicle technologies. This project will support low carbon electric vehicle skills development through an extension to existing workshop space and state-of-the-art technologies at the college.

Scarborough TEC will receive £92,620 investment for their electric and green skills project. This will support the purchase of electric vehicle / training equipment to enable low carbon motor vehicle maintenance courses and charging bays will be installed in the college’s existing Automotive, Construction and Engineering Centre, which was also part-funded with money secured by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and opened in June 2019, to promote green transport education and training and employability. In addition, the project will provide new engineering technologies, to introduce hybrid/electric transport courses.

Ann Hardy, Principal of Scarborough TEC, said: “The electric vehicles will be a fantastic addition to the resources at Scarborough TEC. The vehicles will provide the latest in electric vehicle technology to help us train the future professionals of the industry in preparation for changes in the motor industry to meet environmental needs.”

York College will receive £150,000 to increase technical skills capabilities in electric vehicle technologies. This project will support low carbon electric vehicle skills development through an extension to existing workshop space and state-of-the-art technologies at the college.

Louise Doswell, Deputy Chief Executive and Principal (Partnerships and Development) at York College, said: “York College is committed to training and upskilling motor vehicle technicians to increase capacity to meet the demand for green transport options and contribute to the government net zero carbon target by 2050.  With the support of £150,000  of investment secured by the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership we have been able to accelerate our capital investment plans to start delivering training from the beginning of 2021 with newly installed EV technologies.

“This investment will enable small and medium sized (SME) independent garages who experience the most difficulties in meeting technological advancement needs to access local training opportunities. These developments will also enable access to emerging technological training for new entrants (16 to 19 -year olds) that will enable young people to enter the jobs market with advanced skills and improve employment opportunities.”

Sam Alexander, Chair of the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership Skills and Employability Board, which endorsed funding for both colleges, said: “The projects at York College and Scarborough TEC both offer fantastic opportunities for young people. Both are addressing a skills shortage in our region around low carbon electric vehicle maintenance, which is an important, developing, sector. We are pleased to endorse both projects, which align so closely with the LEP’s good growth ambitions, and our vision for a greener, fairer, stronger economy.”

Ten projects in York & North Yorkshire had £15.4m of investment agreed in principle in August to receive Getting Building Fund money. Final funding decisions are due to be completed by the LEP before the end of 2020.