College invests £1.4 million in state-of-the-art engineering facilities.

The Wigan and Leigh College Campus in Wigan town centre has been completely re-developed. Part of this development involved moving the existing engineering facilities from the town centre to a purpose-designed facility – Pagefield. TSL provided a range of Mechanical Engineering, Welding and Fabrication Equipment, and CNC machines. The design involved meeting a tight budget yet providing a full range of machines.

Wigan & Leigh College is investing £1.4 million in state-of-the-art engineering facilities at its Pagefield Centre, Wigan. The investment programme will transform existing classroom spaces into new, open plan workshops. A third of the funds for the new facilities at the College has been secured via the Skills Funding Agency.

All Photographs Copyright Oliver Edwards taken for TSL. oliveredwards.co.uk 07598315331 mail@oliveredwardsphotography.com

The Turning and Milling workshops have new and upgraded equipment, which will include the latest technology in fabrication and welding. There will also be a CNC plasma cutting bed and a new thermodynamic and fluid mechanic laboratory. To complement this state-of-the-art equipment, students will have access to the latest finite element analysis software, CAD/CAM, hydraulics and pneumatics software, enabling them to experience learning in a high-spec environment.

TSL worked with the Divisional Manager, teaching staff, and project management team, and arranged visits for staff to Macclesfield College for demonstrations of the machinery they were interested in purchasing. Our project managers helped staff to match equipment and budget to their requirements. They also provided drawings and mechanical & electrical data about individual pieces of equipment and were available to help electrical subcontractors to ensure that all machinery was correctly installed. TSL’s project managers worked with a number of different departments and suppliers to ensure the safe delivery and subsequent installation and testing of the equipment purchased.

The new facilities and machines will provide a modern working environment to train and meet the needs of full-time students, apprentices in training, part-time and evening learners across Mechanical Engineering and Welding & Fabrication courses.

“There is currently a known shortage of good quality engineers, despite the engineering sector still playing a major part in the UK economy. The facilities will enable our students to help plug that gap. This investment is great news for the college and the future students who will have access to these fantastic facilities while enhancing their employability.”