West Midlands Combined Authority has confirmed that it has taken another step towards completing its City Learning Quarter.
This comes with the completion of the first step, which has brought the construction of the Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre at the City of Wolverhampton College. The centre has been delivered thanks to £8.1 million of funding and has taken 11 months to finish.
Of the investment, £7.7 million was contributed by the West Midlands Combined Authority, with the remaining figure being committed by the Black Country LEP. The overall City Learning Quarter project is also benefitting from £49 million of UK Government investment.
The centre will focus on studies on engineering and the automotive industry, hosting facilities for new electric, hybrid and traditional vehicles. Alongside this, it will have a focus on fabrication, manufacturing, welding, CAD and robotics.
With a shortage of skills in the city of Wolverhampton, the centre will allow residents to develop their skills in these areas, supporting the delivery of a multi-skilled and flexible workforce. Supporting this is the projection that the centre will welcome 5,500 learners and 954 apprenticeships over the course of the first decade of its operation.
Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker said:
“The West Midlands has a proud heritage in manufacturing, especially in the automotive industry. But these industries, and the jobs that come with them, won’t be available to our residents if we don’t innovate for the future.
“We are backing the future of this region by investing in the state-of-the-art Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre. It will be instrumental in keeping the West Midlands’ vital manufacturing sector at the forefront of the industry and will ensue our residents have the skills needed to access new jobs so our region can thrive.”
The second phase of the City Learning Quarter will see a city centre campus being delivered for the college, allowing it to move away from its current outdated site. Alongside this, transformational works will be completed on the Adult Education Wolverhampton and Central Library facilities. This second phase is set to open in September 2025,.
Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills at City of Wolverhampton Council, Cllr Chris Burden, added:
“The City Learning Quarter is a key priority for the city that will transform the learning environment for our students and residents through a top-class education and skills offer…
“It aligns with Wolverhampton’s strong credentials as a front runner in green industries, which will be further supported by the development of our Green Innovation Corridor as one of the three pillars in the West Midlands Investment Zone.”
Image credit: iStock and West Midlands Combined Authority
