New Automotice Training Centre at Wolverhampton College. Put to good use to raise money for charity.
Lecturers were getting winter ready car checks today in return for a donation to charity. It was all happening at the Bilston site of Wolverhampton College in there brand new Automotive Training facility.
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00:00So we're here at Wolverhampton College Wellington Road campus on the way to
00:03Bilston there and Stephanie just to fill us in on who you are exactly and what
00:07your role is here. Hi so I'm Stephanie Jones I'm the Curriculum Manager for
00:11Automotive here at the college. And it's an amazing facility brand new isn't it?
00:16It is brand new we officially had our launch a few weeks ago and it cost
00:20around 8.1 million it's a huge investment for the college and it's
00:23fantastic for the automotive learners. So it's all about yeah like you say
00:28students learning learning automotive skills to go into our industry. What sort
00:32of facilities have you got here then? You can handle a few cars I can see. We can
00:36so we are able to sort of be a traditional working garage but we also
00:40have hybrid and electric vehicle facilities as well. And there's even a
00:45classroom I understand where a car can appear in the classroom? Yes we've got
00:49our EV lab so you can actually drive through the electric vehicle workshop
00:52into the classroom and there will be simulated training boards in there where
00:56learners can actually practice their skills on training boards rather than on
01:00a real high voltage car. Fantastic and how many students will you have kind of
01:05on the courses here at any one time roughly? Across the levels that's from
01:09entry 3 to level 3 we've got about 140 learners at the present. Wow that's good
01:15going isn't it? More than we anticipated this year we've exceeded target. Yeah I guess when you
01:20have the open days when people come and look at the facilities you know I mean
01:23the gentleman at the back we spoke to the student he said he's seen a few
01:26sites and he can't think of one better in the West Midlands so that speaks volumes.
01:30The lads are working hard there, they're working on a lecturer's car, what's
01:36that all about? So this week Ben which is an automotive charity and they're having
01:41a Ben's Big Breakfast event throughout the whole week. We decided to use every
01:46single day and dedicate so many hours for staff and students within the
01:50college to bring the car down into the workshop and to have a winter check
01:55carry loads from the vehicles. We do request a minimum of five pound donation but it's
01:58all going to be donated to charities so it's been really good. Ben I've not come
02:02across Ben but when you say an automotive charity elaborate on that a
02:06little bit if you can. So Ben is a charity that's really biased towards
02:11automotive people so anyone that works within the automotive industry has
02:14access to Ben as a charity and you can contact them by telephone and be put in
02:20touch with people that can help support with mental health needs, financial
02:25worries or any any worries that you might have rather than going through
02:28your GP. This is a more faster approach if you like to get in touch with someone
02:32that can help and support. Is your car in the queue to have a check over? It is
02:37indeed it is today yes and I will be making my five pound donation. Well done
02:40good on you. Thank you ever so much Steph. Thank you. So Ty you're one of the
02:44lecturers here and you've taught a few different places just shout out some of
02:48the other sites you've worked at. So before starting here I worked at H&P Featherstone in Oakwood as an automotive lecturer. Previously our site now was at Padgett Road, it's a bit different to this, it was a bit older and outdated.
03:02How does this compare to Padgett Road then? I think the facilities we've got
03:06here are more in line with what you see in the industry with the way they've modernised a
03:11lot of dealerships in the area and whatnot so I think the students are
03:15getting a bit more real-life experience, the equipment's all new and again industry
03:22standard or even above so I think it's a good environment for them to be in.
03:26And I guess when word gets out you know that the students have been
03:31taught at this level of facility that just that doesn't do any harm into them
03:35getting moving into them first steps on the ladder jobs does it? No I think if
03:39people were to look into the training facilities that they've been at it might
03:43put them above their competition in terms of what they've had to experience here.
04:13Lads I might interrupt you, how are you? You okay lads? Who we got then? What's your name sir? James, I'm Akash.
04:33Cool so you're both students here at Wolverhampton College? Yes. You've got some experience yourself
04:39in the trade though? I've got bits and pieces over the years. So you're upskilling, that's the word isn't it?
04:46That's the word yeah yeah. So I mean the facility is looking great and we're
04:50finding out more about that. From a student's point of view what what do you
04:54think about it? I mean it helps if you've got somewhere decent to study doesn't it?
04:57What do you think about what you've got here? I think the facilities we've got here have probably got to be the best in the West Midlands.
05:04Other colleges that I've visited, this is by far the best facilities. Well that's good speaking from someone that's seen some other sites as well, do you know what I mean?
05:13And Akash? From last year it's a big improvement. It's a bigger space, it's more comfortable as well.
05:20So what's, you're 17 aren't you? So what's, you know we've got a
05:27magic wand, we're looking to the future, five years, ten years from now, where are you
05:30gonna be? Hopefully in a penship. And what is it we're doing today then? A bit of a
05:37special charity event isn't it today? It is, so what we're doing is we are doing winter checks for the cars, checking basic things, fluid levels, tyre tread depth, all the silly little things that people overlook.
05:53And so there's quite a few little things you're going through there, and these cars
05:58are no ordinary cars, you're being let loose on the tutors cars, is that right? We are yeah, they're very brave.
06:05So yeah, they're trusting you, they obviously well love tutors. So they pay, is it a fiver they're paying?
06:11I believe it's five pound donation to Ben. Yeah, and that's an automotive charity isn't it? It is, I believe.
06:18And have you come across any cars that have caused alarm at the minute, are we doing okay?
06:23We're doing quite well, your tyres are getting a little bit low, but generally they're all in fairly decent condition.
06:31Well that's useful info to be passing on isn't it, as we're coming to winter, do you know what I mean?
06:34Because otherwise they perhaps would not have realised. That's the whole point of doing this, and it's for a good cause.
06:40Exactly, well we'll let you continue with your checks lads, and thanks a lot, and all the best for the future. Thank you.