A new training centre at the College of West Anglia in Wisbech was officially opened last Friday by MP Steven Barclay, following sponsorship from Anglian Water.
The water company invested £250,000 in the new facility at the college, which will train both Anglian Water engineers allowing them to continue in their professional development, as well as providing new skills for the next generation of apprentices.
As part of the Wisbech 2020 Vision, the new centre will be used for technical training and skills development as well as being an official assessment centre for employees gaining industry recognised qualifications.
It will offer a wide range of opportunities for employees and apprentices to gain skills across a variety of technical areas, including New Roads and Street Works training, permit writing, low risk confined spaces qualifications and operational manual handling training. The centre has been City and Guilds accredited for external qualification assessments.
Phil Brown, head of people development at Anglian Water said: “Ensuring that Anglian Water people get the best training to develop themselves and their career is hugely important to us. This facility will enable them to gain valuable and practical skills as well as achieving nationally recognised qualifications.
“Around a third of Anglian Water’s workforce will retire in the next decade so we need to attract and then train the budding engineers and technicians from the next generation and give them the right skills and experience to be successful in our business.”
He said: “A classroom at the college has been refurbished with training facilities suitable to provide hands on experience on topics like sampling and water regulations. There is also an outdoor training space, where delegates can use mock equipment, learning the skills associated with metering, leakage detection, and supply restoration.”
Mr Barclay said: “Increasing skill provision is critical to delivering the Wisbech 2020 Vision.
“The new centre is a brilliant example of public and private sector collaboration, and it demonstrates the role responsible business has to play in improving the prospects of young people and underpinning economic growth in and around the town.”
Anglian Water will also be hosting an open day at the new training and development facility between 11am and 3pm on Friday July 6. To register a place, please email public.affairs@anglianwater.co.uk .
To find out more and apply, visit the apprenticeship page on the Anglian Water website here: www.anglianwatercareers.co.uk/student/apprentice-trainee-schemes.aspx
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