19 March 2010
National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering – Cheshire
& Warrington Response
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has announced
that they will be supporting and backing the establishment of a
National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering.
Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance (CWEA), Cheshire East
Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) are
delighted at today’s announcement which is the culmination of two
years of working with the industry to bring these hopes to
fruition.
In June 2008 Pete Waterman, and other figures and employers in
the railway industry, headed a campaign for Government backing to
set up the Skills Academy. This was supported by the NWDA together
with the CWEA who submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI).
The EOI demonstrated a strong commitment to fully support the
establishment of a regional centre for the National Skills Academy,
working in partnership with Cheshire East Council and a number of
regional partners.
Crewe’s rail heritage and central location on the UK rail
network have made it the ideal location for a regional centre of a
National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering, while the demand
for railway engineering skills, both in the UK and abroad, has
increased rapidly and is continuing to grow. It is expected to
increase further as a number of major railway projects are
implemented.
Much of the industry is having difficulty attracting staff with
appropriate skills for many reasons, including a negative
perception of the industry. At the same time, the average age of
the current UK rail industry workforce is increasing; therefore it
will become increasingly difficult to satisfy the demand for key
skills, which will be lost as employees retire.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: “The future
success of the regional economy is dependent on a number of
factors, including the development of industries that will create
employment opportunities for a number of years. Improving skills,
education and employability are just some of the NWDA’s key
priorities, especially for those industries that have an ageing
workforce and few provisions to train.
“A National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering would bring
huge benefits to the industry, creating job opportunities and
enabling the industry to compete effectively in global
markets.”
Robert Davis, Chairman of CWEA said: “The demand for railway
engineering skills in Crewe, the Cheshire and Warrington sub region
and the Northwest as a whole has continued to grow.
We are delighted that our extensive and wholehearted support for
this project has played an important role in gaining the backing of
the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills nationally. We
see a regional centre of the academy located in Crewe as of
paramount importance for the Cheshire and Warrington economy, and
we will therefore continue working closely with both railway
industry bodies and major employers in the industry on the academy
project to ensure that plans are put into place to effectively
address the skills needs identified, both now and in the
future.”
Pete Waterman, owner of the Crewe based London North Western
Railway Heritage Company, has been hugely influential in winning
support for this project, working in collaboration with CWEA and
generating interest in the project at both local and national
levels.
Pete Waterman said: “Delighted that today we see the first step
in what must be a new way of training and teaching skills. Without
skills we cannot build or maintain our railways that are so much
part of any green future. Crewe has been a major force in the last
150 years of railway history with a NSARE here we can use those
skills to make sure that we get another 150 years.”
Councillor Jamie Macrae, Cheshire East Council Cabinet member
for prosperity, said: “This announcement is great news for the rail
industry and we hope it will also be great news for the future of
Crewe. A National Skills Academy for Railway Engineering will help
revitalise and re-energise the industry and continue to enhance
engineering skills and create vital employment opportunities.
The Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance is to be
congratulated on its hard work pushing for this important and
innovative scheme. We now hope it will help boost plans to
regenerate Crewe and the surrounding region.”
Working with railway industry employers and other key partners
CWEA, NWDA and Cheshire East Council will now link closely with the
leaders of the new Academy to progress plans for its set up in
Crewe in 2011.
For further information contact:
Tina Johnston, External Relations Manager
Cheshire & Warrington Economic Alliance
Tel: 01606 734187; Mobile: 07976 617129; Email: Tina.Johnston@cwea.org.uk
NOTES
Cheshire & Warrington Economic Alliance
Cheshire & Warrington Economic Alliance is funded by the
Northwest Regional Development Agency and by the local authorities
of Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council and
Warrington Borough Council. CWEA brings together leaders and
influencers from both the public and private sector to work in
partnership on a wide range of economic development issues in the
sub region to ensure a dynamic, high quality environment for both
business and residents. Visit www.cwea.org.uk.
Northwest Regional Development Agency
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) works to deliver
economic success in England’s Northwest by building the
competitiveness of businesses, people and places. Our strategic
influence on transport, housing and economic planning helps to
deliver high impact projects that will enhance the quality of life
for people living, working or visiting the Northwest.
For further information visit: www.nwda.co.uk