'I became a mechanic after fixing my car via YouTube'

Grace Campbell said she wanted to inspire other women to get into the industry

A primary school teacher said she decided to switch careers to the automotive and mechanic industry after fixing the wing mirror on her electric vehicle with the help of online video tutorials.

Grace Campbell, 28, from south Staffordshire, said she had previously been put off going into the field because it was male-dominated, but learning how to fix her car gave her confidence and she enrolled on a course.

She is now going on to teach other students at the new £8.1m City of Wolverhampton College Advanced Technology and Automotive Centre in Bilston.

The college is aiming to tackle youth unemployment in the West Midlands by equipping student with skills in an industry with an ageing workforce.

It is part of the first phase of City of Wolverhampton Council's Learning Quarter master plan which includes a £61m campus offering new educational facilities for the college, Adult Education Wolverhampton, and Central Library.

The purpose-built automotive campus on Wellington Road opened last September and offers specialised courses, including a focus on electric vehicles and robotics.

Antonio Keise, from Wolverhampton, said the lecturers were very knowledgeable and he wanted to work with electric and hybrid vehicles

Ms Campbell said she had been interested in cars and mechanics since she was about 14 but her family had dismissed it as an industry for men.

"As I've got older, I've realised women can do whatever they want," she said.

She was also encouraged by her grandmother, who had terminal cancer and told her to "live life and do what you need to".

She started out on an evening course, studying for a level one Institute of the Motor Industry light vehicle maintenance diploma in 2023 at the college's former Paget Road site.

Now on level three, with placements at garages, she will be teaching automotive studies at the college next September.

"The next best thing for me to do is to inspire and upskill the next generation who want to be in the industry and encourage more women and girls to come forward and join," she said.

The centre has been funded by £7.7m from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the remainder from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership

Fellow student Antonio Keise, 24, who lives in Wolverhampton, is on the same course and said he felt he was flourishing and wanted to work in electric and hybrid vehicles.

"I'm really, really enjoying it and learnt so much and the tutors have worked at Aston Martin and JLR so have good knowledge," he said.

"I know a couple of mechanics that have fallen out of love with the trade... but I think if you have passion for something then you should go for it."

Students can learn from tutors with industry experience

Assistant principal Richard Hewitt said about 200 students had enrolled at the centre this year. He predicted another 5,500 would come through the door over the next decade, with 1,000 apprenticeships.

"There's obviously issues in cities with youth unemployment and we're doing everything we can to give them the expertise and facilities as well to thrive and get into jobs," he said.

He said there was an ageing workforce in the industry but the college was encouraged by bigger car firms investing in apprenticeships, citing Bentley in Crewe recently taking on 33 in engineering and automotive areas.

Councillor Chris Burden, cabinet member for city development, jobs and skills, said the college was offering a course within a rapidly growing economic sector and aligned with the city's "strong credentials" as a front runner in green industries.

The college said it would serve more than 5,000 people and offer almost 1,000 apprenticeships over the first decade