Business Secretary Vince Cable visited Birmingham Metropolitan College this week to meet the first students to start at its new hi-tech Samsung Digital Service Academy.
Vince Cable took a tour of the new facility which opened in April and trains engineers from across the UK as part of their vocational qualification in 3D and wireless technology.
The partnership between Samsung and the college is the first of its kind between a further education provider and a global leader in digital technologies.
Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable said:
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“It is great to see a college such as Birmingham Metropolitan hosting such hi-tech and productive training centres. Examples like this underline the importance of the Government offering it support.
“The growth sectors that require highly specialised skills have to be matched with support for their training needs.
“Samsung is a leader in employer support training and their example will help UK stay one step ahead.”
The minister also saw the BSkyB training facility and met apprentices training in aerial installation. He then took a tour of the new medical laboratories which train apprentices as laboratory technicians and dental nurses.
The minister attended the college as part of a regional visit of the area. He also went with the Business Minister Mark Prisk to the MACH2010 manufacturing technologies event at the NEC in Birmingham.
Both ministers toured some of the stands and saw the latest in engineering-based, hi-tech manufacturing technologies. They also took part in a round table discussion with members of the Manufacturing Technologies Association representing large multinational companies to SMEs and niche players.
