(L-R): Head of business development at Access Training, Valerie Green, Mayor of Gateshead, councillor Eileen McMaster and managing director of Access Training, David Armstrong
Due to the demand for fire, emergency and security systems apprenticeships and a need to keep pace with advancing technology in the industry, Access Training has invested a five-figure sum in a brand-new training facility in Gateshead.
Access Training, based at Gateshead Skills Academy on Team Valley, has leased an additional property five minutes walk from its main site, to increase its capacity to deliver practical and theoretical training on the design and installation of fire, security and emergency systems (FESS).
The new FESS training centre has been kitted-out with technology including wireless, as well as some of the most widely installed older systems – to give apprentices across the north east a range of skills.
The facility, which was officially opened by the Mayor of Gateshead – Councillor Eileen McMaster – will have the capacity to train 100 apprentices a year on the design, commissioning, installation, fault-finding and repairs of security and fire systems. Access has also appointed two new experienced FESS engineers as trainers to deliver the apprenticeships to increase the capacity of the existing team.
Managing director at Access Training, David Armstrong, said: “We have listened to what FESS employers want and acted on it and we’re looking forward to supplying hundreds of highly-trained, competent engineers to the FESS sector thanks to the new training centre.”
