Photo (l-r) David Wynn (Construction Manager, Wilmott Dixon), Mark Christie (Senior Project Surveyor, Wilmott Dixon), Will Allanson (Executive Director for Business Development, Harlow College), Karen Spencer (Principal, Harlow College), Mike Stokes (Vice Principal, Harlow College), Sarah Youens (Campus Operations Manager, Harlow College), Kevin Balding (Senior Building Manager, Wilmott Dixon).

On 15th March a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site of what will be the new Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Centre at Harlow College.

The AMEC facilities, due to open in December 2016, will be focused across three key engineering areas – Advanced Manufacturing, Aeronautical Engineering and Operations & Maintenance Engineering.

They are designed to develop young people with the skills to meet local recruitment demands in the future. This includes supporting the planned growth of advanced manufacturers as they move to Harlow’s Enterprise Zone.

The new Centre is being built by construction firm Willmott Dixon, with work initially beginning in July 2015.

Kevin Balding, Senior Building Manager with Wilmott Dixon, said: “Work is progressing well. We’re digging the excavations for the foundations now and by early May you’ll be able to see the first steel structures going up.”

Will Allanson, Executive Director for Business Development, said of the new AMEC facility: “We are delighted to have Willmott Dixon on board to deliver our state of the art new Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Centre. Once open the centre will enable budding young engineers to develop their skills in superb surroundings that will be equipped with the latest technology. This in turn will enable them to take up some of the fantastic STEM based opportunities, not only in Harlow, but also across Essex and the London, Stansted, Cambridge corridor.”

Karen Spencer, Principal of Harlow College, said: “We are very excited about the new AMEC facility being built at Harlow College. The centre will provide state-of-the-art facilities to support young people and employers into Engineering. We know that Essex needs to recruit 13,500 engineers to meet current and emerging demands. The centre will also provide pathways into Apprenticeships and Higher Apprenticeships with Chartered Status.”

The Centre brings an £8.5 million investment into Harlow and is jointly funded by the College, Essex County Council and the South East Local Enterprise partnership. An Advisory group of local employers has informed the design and curriculum. To find out more about the opportunities the Centre could provide for you or your business, please contact 01279 868100.