THE Tees Valley Mayor has praised a welding company for supporting local industry.

Ben Houchen has paid a visit to Middlesbrough-based technology and training centre The Welding Institute (TWI).

The site opened in 2016 in a new £10 million purpose-built facility, which was developed in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

The centre’s research and development work covers a range of technologies for sectors including oil and gas, chemical, power and transport

Mr Houchen said: “TWI‘s mission is to develop technology, new innovation and help grow the local economy.

“The training centre supports our local industry and positions the Tees Valley as a centre of excellence in the engineering sector, with advanced training and qualification opportunities.

“The new Mayoral Development Corporation is looking at advanced manufacturing, clean technology and next generation technologies, which TWI is already doing with its partners and we need to tap into its expertise to stay ahead of the game and make sure that going forward the local economy is ahead of not just the national picture but the global one," he added.

Mike Russell, operations director at TWI, said:“Although this is a new building for us, Tees Valley is our largest and longest established regional centre and we are here in this fantastic new centre to support local companies, SMEs and partners across the region.”