Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 17
South West Durham Training CEO Trevor Alley is celebrating
three major milestones for the Aycliffe training-provider.
TRIPLE BOOST
FOR SOUTH
WEST DURHAM
South West Durham Training (SWDT) has been given three major boosts to
further strengthen confidence in Aycliffe Business Park’s biggest training-provider.
The well-known training institute has
struck a deal with Hitachi Rail Europe to
teach some its future train-builders.
Hitachi is investing £1m in a prototype train
which will be installed at SWDT’s premises
as part of the deal - the train, shipped from
Japan, is expected to arrive in December.
Meanwhile, the Japanese firm is also
planning to base around 70 staff at SWDT
until its £82m facility opens next year.
The deal comes after SWDT announced
a new partnership with Bishop Auckland
College, in an agreement which will see
the Aycliffe organisation retain its status as
a separate company and registered charity
within the college’s structure.
It will combine the strengths of each
organisation, including recent apprenticeship
success rates at SWDT and the college’s
track-record of good Ofsted ratings.
SWDT revealed in August it had been rated
‘outstanding’ by Ofsted after a series of
year-long improvements - a stamp of approval
under the Further Education and Skills
inspection report, which attributed the result
to the hard work and commitment from all
its staff.
It comes just a year after Ofsted inspectors
told SWDT that improvements were needed.
Following the announcement of an
engineering University Technical College
(UTC) for Aycliffe Business Park, SWDT’s
triple-whammy sends out a clear message
that it’s in a strong position to continue
delivering the future training needs of Aycliffe
and County Durham.
CEO Trevor Alley said: “We’re absolutely
delighted with these three developments,
which are significant for SWDT.
“The link with Bishop Auckland College will
provide opportunities for joint curriculum
and quality developments, and sharing of
resources.
“We’ve actually worked closely for several
years and both boards believed that the time
was right for a more formal partnership to
extend the provision of technical training in
engineering, manufacturing and allied trades,
to meet labour market demands.
”
Mr Alley, also a part-time Ofsted inspector,
added: “The Ofsted report is a huge feather
in the cap and is testament to all the work
that has gone in within SWDT in the last year
or so.
“I knew only too well what was required to
improve the training environment at SWDT
– I’m thrilled that the inspectors recognised
the hard work and commitment shown by
not only our staff but also the learners.
“I was particularly pleased that the report
commented that leaders, managers and staff
at SWDT are passionate about what they
contribute to the success of their learners
and apprentices.
”
Mr Alley has also revealed how Hitachi’s
plant manager Darren Cumner visited SWDT
last year, and after visiting him again more
recently, noticed a difference atmosphere.
“Darren came to see us early on, and I don’t
think it’s a secret to say we’ve been courting
Hitachi since they came to Aycliffe, said Mr
”
Alley.
“When Darren came back recently, he told
me he thought the place was a bit down last
By Martin Walker
year, that the atmosphere was flat.
“But then said that has all changed now,
there’s a buzz around the place, there are
smiles on faces and people enjoy being here
- that’s one of the best accolades we could
get.
”
Mr Alley is now hoping SWDT can continue
to build strong relationships with businesses
in the local community as well as across
County Durham.
He added: “The UTC does come as a
challenge to us, I’d be lying if I denied that,
but it’s one we’re grasping with both hands.
“I should point out that all these positive
developments are as a result of more than
a year’s work behind the scenes - not just a
kneejerk reaction to the UTC - but we actually
think we can complement the UTC when it
comes along.
“I’d like to think we can work with the UTC
to ensure we both offer the best possible
training provision for a future workforce.
”
SWDT has been producing engineering
apprentices for almost half a century, with
noticeable graduates including Stewart
Wingate, the chief executive at Gatwick
Airport, Mike McCabe, former plant
manager at Cummins Engines, in Darlington;
Mike Matthews, managing director of
Eaglescliffe-based Nifco UK, Caraline
Robinson, Husqvarna’s operations director
in Spennymoor, and Gareth Berry, vicepresident of Electrolux Major Appliances’
global operations.
Recent developments would suggest
thousands more are yet to come...