it’s not simply about preserving what we have. It’s about creating opportunities and bringing new curriculum on board in the form of new apprenticeships.
“If you look at AI and digital, everything is always on the move. It gives us significant potential to expand apprenticeship provision, increase employer partnerships and align with the future needs of industry through technical and vocational training.”
For learners there will be better access to wider resources, facilities and expertise, alongside Training 2000’s specialist apprenticeship knowledge and employer relationships.
Dr Dad says: “For Blackburn College, it creates opportunities to expand our apprenticeship footprint and strengthen links with industry.
“Ultimately, the beneficiaries are learners and employers. We exist to serve the needs of our communities and our employers, to make sure no one is left behind.
“If employers are competitive, they can win tenders, bring business into Blackburn and create a win win situation.”
All existing apprentices have been notified of the changes and assured the transition to college ownership will be seamless. Similarly, all Training 2000 staff have been informed and transferred to the college.
Dr Dad says: “We have had communications with employers and apprentices to guarantee they will still be working with the same tutors and maintaining the same quality.
“Behind the scenes, there will be integration of systems, funding, data and resources, but that will happen without apprentices noticing any difference on the front line.”
Prof Graham Baldwin, vice chancellor of the University of Lancashire, says: “The University is pleased to transfer Training 2000 to Blackburn College, an organisation with an excellent reputation for delivering high quality education and skills training in a key part of Lancashire.
“Our longstanding partnership with the college has demonstrated a shared commitment to supporting learners and employers across the region. We are confident this transition provides the strongest foundation for the future success of Training 2000 and the continued growth of apprenticeship provision in Lancashire.”
Karen Soames, head of business development at Training 2000, says: “This is an exciting development for Training 2000, our apprentices, employers and staff.
“Joining Blackburn College ensures continued investment in high quality training, first class facilities and the excellent learner experience for which Training 2000 is known.
“As part of a larger educational organisation, apprentices will benefit from wider progression opportunities, access to additional expertise and an even broader curriculum offer, while employers will continue to receive the high quality service and support they value.
“Our priority throughout this process has been to ensure continuity for apprentices, employers and partners. Learners will continue their studies on the same timescales and at the same locations, and we are working closely together to ensure a smooth and successful transition.”
Artist’s impression of the new polymerisation hall
£40M PERSPEX PLANT NEARS LAUNCH
A £40m new factory development for Darwen based Perspex International is expected to be operational within the next two months.
The plastics firm will use the new polymerisation hall and energy centre extension at its Chapels Park site to streamline its processes and make manufacturing greener – substantially reducing water and energy consumption.
Operations director Bryan Welch said: “We are at the final stage of construction now. We expect to be commissioning in September or October and then imminently going into full production using the new equipment that we put into place.
“The build is almost completed at the moment. We are just finishing installing the main plant buildings and we are installing the pipework and the electrical and the power supply and the controls.
all over Europe and there were options to relocate the business abroad, but the decision was taken to remain in Darwen.
Bryan said: “Perspex first came to the town during the Second World War as it was seen as a safe place for the plant which was manufacturing Spitfire canopies.
“Perspex has been a leading brand in plastic since the 1930s and Darwen is the only production site for Perspex across the whole of the UK.
“3A Composites operates multiple sites around Europe and we could have moved this production elsewhere, but the decision was made to keep investing in Darwen and keep producing the Perspex sheet in Darwen.
“This is currently the single biggest investment in any of the sites in Europe in 3A Composites. It really is a significant indicator of the commitment to this area by our shareholders.”
Perspex has been a leading brand in plastic
since the 1930s and Darwen is the only production site for Perspex across the whole of the UK
“This is a change in technology in our existing site at Chapels Park. We are going for a much more energy efficient process to polymerise our sheet.
“It’s obviously cost driven because of the cost of energy, but then also has a massive environmental impact positively because we will be dropping our energy consumption by two thirds and our water consumption by 90 per cent.”
The investment by the firm, which reported revenues of £42m in its most recent accounts and employs about 150 people, represents a commitment to the town it has called home for more than nine decades.
Parent company 3A Composites has sites
And the investment is just the start of a five year investment plan for the future of the company.
Bryan said: “Ultimately, in the long term our plan will be to consolidate all of our activities on to the property that we own here at Chapels Park.
“Where we have retained the one building at Orchard Mill where we produce our colour for the sheet, we will want to move that into the Chapels Park building.
“We currently rent our warehousing at Walker Park in Blackburn and our intention, part of the long term plan, is also to relocate our warehousing here on to our site at Chapels Park.”
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