College's new engineering hub officially opened

The new hub has been designed in consultation with manufacturing and engineering firms in the area

A new multimillion-pound Technical Engineering Centre (TEC) has been officially opened in Keighley.

Run by Keighley College, the facility is part of the new Providence Park industrial development located at the former Universal Mills site, on the corner of Dalton Lane and Bradford Road.

Costing £12m, Providence Park was partially funded using £6.5m of government money through the Keighley Towns Fund.

Built for equipping apprentices with in-demand technical skills, the new centre is being used to teach up to 120 people at any one time.

Its lower floor features an engineering workshop, with the site also including a lab on the building's upper level along with two IT rooms and a teaching space.

The TEC was officially opened by 90-year-old Michael Parkinson, of manufacturer Airedale Springs, who has links to the college stretching back for more than 50 years.

'Highly specialised skills'

Keighley College's director of apprenticeships, Kelly-Marie McAllister, said the building would build on the area's "proud industrial heritage".

"We are fortunate to have so many innovative companies in our midst, but right now they are struggling to recruit enough of the skilled workers that they need," she said.

She said the centre had been designed in consultation with employers in the area to help "tackle skills shortages head-on".

Bradford Council's lead member for regeneration, planning and transport, Alex Ross-Shaw, said the TEC would allow people "to learn highly specialised skills and create employment opportunities for the future".

Alongside the TEC, he said Providence Park had five new buildings housing 23 industrial units.

"We expect about 100 jobs will be created in total across the whole site," he added.

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