A new £1.1m Skills Centre for the engineering and construction trades has opened at West Lothian College.

The 325sq m extension consists of a multi-purpose workshop, as well as three remodelled teaching spaces and integrated staff workroom with an extended canopy which will allow motor vehicle students to work outside.

Around 200 students will use the facility's workshop each year and has been designed to allow them to use the same industry machines used in a realistic work environment.

Engineering students can learn the basic use of hand tools, manually operated lathes, drills and mills, to advanced Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) machines. It is also anticipated that industrial-based training courses – such as those linked to the CNC machines, like CAD-CAM – will be developed in the future.

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Other disciplines at the centre include painting and decorating, and carpentry.

Mr Atsuhiro Yabu, President of Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe Ltd, opened the centre. He said: "It is a great honour to open this impressive new Skills Centre. Mitsubishi Electric, looks forward to continuing our close links with West Lothian College, in our joint quest to develop and improve engineering skills."

Mhairi Harrington, Principal and Chief Executive of West Lothian College, added: "We are delighted to be unveiling the new and improved skills centre. We are confident that the new facilities will greatly benefit our students and the surrounding community.

"The facilities have been designed to meet the demands of our rapidly growing student base, providing them with the relevant skills desired by employers all over the UK."

(JP/IT)