Technology training scheme lands £1.67m cash boost

Oct 7 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

A TRAINING centre has landed £1.67m to extend a scheme to help smaller companies, and hopes to create 90 jobs and secure many more.

The TWI Technology Centre, in Middlesbrough, will be able to work with manufacturers in the low-carbon energy sector to improve the skills of their workers.

The centre, operated by research and development organisation TWI, said the cash from regional development agency One North East would enable it to help more small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs).

It will extend its Renewable Energy Manufacturing Technology (Remtec) initiative, which aims to increase the turnover of SMEs in the region by more than £6m, create 90 jobs and safeguard another 240 jobs over the next three years.

It aims to make companies more competitive by giving help, ranging from access to specialist support staff to research, development and testing facilities.

The scheme focuses on specialised work, including making wind towers, turbine blades, coatings for biomass power plants and solar energy systems.

The project is being part-financed by £1m from the European Regional Development Fund 2017-13, matching the £670,000 from One North East’s Single Programme. Contributions from participating SMEs make up the remainder of the £2m initiative.

TWI associate director Terry O’Neill said: “We will give regional businesses access to TWI's world-class and leading edge fabrication technologies to enable them to adopt new design and manufacturing methods for the low-carbon energy sector, particularly in areas such as off-shore wind power.

"We have a waiting list of SMEs looking for TWI technology transfer assistance. TWI experts will help these companies with product and process reviews to identify opportunities, exploit innovation and resolve technical problems.

“We will follow these up with direct support to explore the feasibility of new ideas and the application of alternative technologies and solutions.” One company already to benefit from the project is Hebburn-based Cottam Brush, which worked with TWI to explore alternative manufacturing processes for steel wire brushes used in pipeline inspection applications. TWI works across all industry sectors, offering consultancy and training services in welding, engineering, and all aspects of materials joining, fabrication technology development and technology transfer. It operates an international network of 3,500 companies in more than 60 countries.