A FORMER wholesale grocer's depot in Sunderland is being transformed into a training centre that will recreate a manufacturing factory floor.

Productivity training specialists, The Automotive Sector Strategic Alliance (Assa) has invested £35,000 in a 5,000sq ft unit on the Leechmere Industrial Estate.

It will be equipped with a mock production line to develop the skills of staff in the car manufacturing industries.

The centre will train more than 200 staff a year employed in the automotive and manufacturing sectors as well as unemployed Wearsiders hoping to move into such businesses.

It will house a fully operational assembly track, which can be adapted to produce anything from wheel axles to television sets.

It will also feature a skills rig to improve the dexterity and productivity of the operator and a number of high-tech welding booths.

Brian Craig, training controller, said: "The Leechmere facility will complement our centre in Ryhope, which delivers a similar type of training, but it will double the number of trainees we can cater for and provide more in-depth manufacturing techniques.

"We expect that a range of high volume manufacturing companies will make use of the facility to develop their staff."

For more information about the courses on offer, contact Brian Craig on 0191-521 4522.