A SPECIALIST construction and engineering training centre in east Durham is celebrating its fifth anniversary.

The Technical Academy, part of East Durham College, based in Peterlee, took over a disused industrial unit on the town’s South West Industrial Estate in June 2010.

The state-of-the-art education facility, training the region’s next generation of engineers, manufacturers and construction trade workers, opening months later and has since successfully trained hundreds of young people.

With continued investment it offers training, primarily for 16 to 18 year-olds, in a number of areas including welding, plumbing, engineering, manufacturing, automotive maintenance, gas and heating, electrical installation and other construction-based disciplines.

Developed to specifically meet the needs of local employers, the academy gives young people the hands on experience needed to be industry-ready.

An important part of the Academy’s success has been the excellent links and partnerships it’s created with industry, including the likes of Baxi, CTD Tiles, Esh, Eagle Welding, Grundfos, Megger, Miller, Terraclean and Wates.

The Technical Academy centre manager Rob Hutchinson, said: “The last five years have been fantastic.

“We've recently re-developed the building to improve the facilities on offer and we've also expanded the curriculum to make sure we're ideally placed to meet the employment needs of businesses in the area.

“There's a real commitment from everyone involved here to attract high calibre students, young people who want to learn and push themselves so at the end of their time with us they are ready to work in industry, contributing from day one.”

For more information visit eastdurham.ac.uk or to get your business involved contact Rob Hutchinson on 0191 518 5577 or Emma Norbury on 0191 518 5587.