College opens new facility for the Manufacturing Sector

Leicester College launched its impressive Food Manufacturing Innovation Suite with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tour of the facilities on 3 November 2009.

The College has been funded £500,000 by the East Midlands Development Agency for the Food Manufacturing Innovation Suite which will be available to help businesses with their product development.

During the opening ceremony, Jonathan Cooper, Business Development Manager for the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink said: “It’s innovation that has and continues to underpin the growth and success of the food and drink industry, the largest manufacturing sector in the UK, and is the only one that has grown continuously over recent years.

“This facility provides a fantastic opportunity to engage a broad range of people in learning.  It is set up to develop skills across the functional and technical range required by the food and drink industry.”

Leicester College Principal, Maggie Galliers, said: “The workers of the future will benefit from these facilities.  Food Manufacturing companies will be able to call on the expertise of college staff to support them in development of new products, with have access to state-of-the-art equipment and to short bespoke courses to enhance their learning programme.

“We are grateful for the East Midlands Development Agency’s (EMDA) support and look forward to delivering on targets.”

Ian Liftro, Kettleby Foods said: “It’s good to see the College doing something so innovative for the manufacturing sector.  Learners here will have the opportunity to experience what it is like in the working environment.”