The Duke of Gloucester visits new £3 million Advanced Engineering Centre

Date:Monday 15 October 2018

His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester has visited Exeter College’s new £3 million Advanced Engineering Centre– meeting with key industrial partners.

His Royal Highness found out more about the work of the students and staff during a tour of the centre – a leading centre of excellence for robotics and virtual welding.

The Duke was welcomed by John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, who spoke to His Royal Highness about the ethos of the college and the high standards of training given with state-of-the-art facilities.

During the visit, The Duke also met with employer representatives from Axminster Tools, Arconic, and Hepco Motion showing the very strong links and collaboration between the college and its industrial partners. The visit took place on Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

Alan Styles represented Axminster tools, who were instrumental in the location of industrial machinery for both the machine shops and advanced manufacturing workshop. Elliott Knight represented Arconic, presented the innovative robotics and CNC cell work station. Meanwhile, Maurice Porter, represented Hepco Motion, who have worked with the faculty in the design of a safety cell for the advanced manufacturing workshop.

Alan Styles, from Axminster Tools, said: “It was a proud moment to meet The Duke of Gloucester. We at Axminster Tools are keen to encourage and support Exeter College in any way we can. We’ve worked very closely with the college for several years by sending apprentices each year, providing advice and supplying a number of machines in the Advanced Engineering Centre which students are now able to take advantage of.

“We are delighted to have been involved in the setting up of such a fantastic facility here in the South West – a facility which makes Exeter College one of the best in the UK for engineering disciplines. The machines and equipment together with the high quality teaching will give Exeter College students a head start when it comes to future employment.”

Maurice Porter, from Hepco Motion, said: “Hepco Motion enjoys a valuable partnership with Exeter College. The outstanding teaching and cutting edge resources ensure the HepcoMotion apprenticeship programme remains world class.”

John Laramy, Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome the His Royal Highness to Exeter College, he spent time with students, staff, stakeholders and employers. The Duke is clearly interested in engineering and robotics.”

The Duke also met a number of other representatives during his visit, including the Lord Mayor, the police, and David Allen OBE, Chair of the Board of Governors, Exeter College.

The new £3 million Advanced Engineering Centre was officially opened by CEO of Flybe in July. The centre is a 780 square extension to the Exeter College Technology Centre on edge of Exeter and is meeting the growing demand regionally for skills in engineering, automated manufacturing and robotics.

The centre is partly funded from the Heart of the South West LEP’s Growth Deal funding. The centre has also benefited from a grant from the Arconic Foundation of $51,000.