20 December 2006
New ECAT Building launched at Learning Zone
Liz Davis, Director of Area for Learning and Skills Council Cheshire and Warrington today performed the official opening of the first building to be completed on the £38 million Macclesfield Learning Zone, the European Centre for Aerospace Training (ECAT).
Invited guests joined The Worshipful Mayor of the Borough of Macclesfield Councillor Jim Crockatt, Sir Nicholas Winterton M.P and Steven Broomhead, NWDA Chief Executive, in a celebratory presentation at the official launch.
Macclesfield College Principal said, "We are delighted that our engineering students are now able to benefit from using the superb facilities in the new, high quality, ECAT building. This is the first of the Macclesfield Learning Zone buildings which has been completed and it marks the start of a new era of success, building on the College's recent 'Oustanding' Ofsted Inspection".
Liz Davis, Director of Area for Learning and Skills Council Cheshire and Warrington said "The opening of the European Centre for Aerospace Training (ECAT) building represents another landmark in progress towards the completion of the Macclesfield Learning Zone in which the LSC has invested over £10 million. The LSC recognises in particular the major role that ECAT will continue to play as a Centre for Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in meeting the training needs of aerospace employers both regionally and nationally".
A further £5 million contribution has been made by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) which is also backing the project. Chief Executive, Steven Broomhead, said: "The NWDA is pleased to have been able to support the development of the new ECAT building which will help to train the next generation of Aerospace Engineers, meeting the skills needs of employers locally, regionally and nationally."
Engineering students from throughout the North West and from overseas, are now benefiting from the superb facilities in the new ECAT building. These currently include students from the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
The Learning Zone will consist of a new College, a new joint Sixth Form College, a new School for Henbury High School, a new joint Sports Centre, the European Centre for Aerospace Training (ECAT) and the integration opportunities for secondary age students Park Lane Special School.
ENDS
From Ken Reece, Marketing & External Relations Manager, Macclesfield College, Park Lane, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 8LF
Tel. 01625 410015, email: ken.reece@macclesfield.ac.uk. Fax. 01625 410051