Students from Exeter and all over Devon got the chance to see for themselves the city college's brand new Technology Centre when it opened its doors last week. While the students have hopefully been enjoying a well earned break from studies over the summer, the college has been busy preparing for the new term.

The new £8.5million Technology Centre, built to provide world class Engineering, Aerospace and Automotive facilities at the edge of Exeter, is the latest new build in the college's property strategy and the iconic building at Monkerton is already making an impression on students and staff. The exciting new facility boasts industry-led teaching spaces, garage workshops and paint spraying booths, a learning centre and high tech laboratories for both practical and academic learning for around 300 students.

“It's really modern and got good facilities” said Jago Clark, 16, who travels from Torquay to study Level 3 Engineering at the centre. Jessica Knott, 16 from Okehampton also commented that the centre is modern and was impressed with how well equipped the garages are, whilst Rigel Bituin, 18, originally from West Exe and now studying Level 3 Engineering, said “It's improved from the facilities we were in last year and seems quite a lot bigger.”

Welcoming the first students to the brand new building, Iain Hatt, Assistant Principal said “The students here are studying a wide range of courses ranging from part-time introductory courses for 14-16 year olds in partnership with local schools; 16-18 year old full-time level 1 – 3 vocational courses, university level courses and dedicated employer training. We've invested a lot into the design to ensure this is truly a world class centre which will ensure students of all ages are challenged to meet increasingly demanding industry standards and the new equipment, workshops and training resources will support our outstanding record for teaching and learning.”

“There's a real buzz around the building as we welcome our first students. This is the first time our engineering, aerospace and automotive students are together and they can learn so much from each other. All our staff are making sure these new students feel at home and find out about the technical, teaching and social spaces we've created so that they are supported and inspired while at college”

“We're also hoping our returning students will settle into their new facilities very quickly and see the difference from their previous venues at Marsh Barton and the centre of town.”

The centre also provides an important focus for the training of a range of apprentices who will take advantage of the most modern industry equipment during their day release at college, giving them up to date skills to be used as they work with a range of local and regional businesses.

“This is another exciting landmark for the college,” said Richard Atkins, Principal, “This purpose-built centre is designed to answer the growing demands of the crucial engineering, aerospace and automotive industries for up to date skills which keep them ahead of global technological advances and which will have a direct benefit on the local and national economy. East Devon and Exeter is well placed for future economic development and this new centre will provide a world-class training infrastructure to support these developments”.

“We are proud that, due to our outstanding student success rates and prudent financial management, Exeter College is one of the very few in the country that has the confidence to continue to invest in providing modern industry- standard training facilities, particularly in those sectors which have been identified as local and national priorities. There is understandably a lot of interest in this wonderful building from local residents, businesses and employer networks. We are already hosting a number of groups who want to see the new facilities, but our first priority is to settle in our new students.”