The region’s largest provider of post-16 education, Cheshire College will be delivering the upskilling and reskilling of local people after a £100m investment was made by Stellantis into Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant, which will see it transform into the UK’s first manufacturing site dedicated to electric vans and cars.
The investment was announced on Tuesday 6 July at a press conference attended by UK Government, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng and Vauxhall Motors Managing Director, Paul Willcox. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also recorded a video message, which was played during the conference hailing the announcement as a ‘huge vote of confidence for Ellesmere Port’.
With an ethos set around inspiring and engaging young learners and adults with the latest innovations and technologies, Cheshire College will be delivering courses designed to upskill and reskill current and new Vauxhall employees in the future of the motor vehicle industry, which will see no new diesel and petrol cars sold in the UK from 2030.
Dhesi, Principal and CEO of Cheshire College, said: “This is a fantastic boost for both the town and people of Ellesmere Port and here at Cheshire College we’re extremely proud to be a part of this. The automotive industry is embarking on a really exciting journey as the country begins to shift to environmentally friendly electric vehicles and I’m delighted we will be working with Vauxhall to deliver the all-important training required to support this.
“We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with Vauxhall and will be using the very best cutting-edge technology to deliver the high-quality training needed to ensure more and more of the job opportunities that become available go to people in the local area.”
Cheshire College currently supports apprentices working with Vauxhall and the education provider has played a vital role in safeguarding a sustainable future for the town, having consistently supported Stellantis’ plans alongside the UK Government, Cheshire West and Chester Council and the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.
“I particularly want to thank our highly skilled, dedicated workforce for their patience and contribution. Thanks also to Cheshire College for their assistance in providing training for our teams. Producing battery electric vehicles here will support clean, safe and affordable mobility for all. Since 1903 Vauxhall has manufactured vehicles in Britain and we will continue to do so”, said Mark Noble, Vauxhall Ellesmere Port Plant Director.