The Princess Royal opens new state-of-the-art training centre in Chatteris
December 12, 2023
Princess Anne was in Fenland (29 November) to officially open a state-of-the-art engineering training centre.
The Princess Royal unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit and the opening of the North Cambridgeshire Training Centre in Chatteris
The centre is run by the Eastern Education Group and was set up to support people of all ages to gain new skills to bolster their career prospects and contribute to the region.
The land where the NCTC is situated is owned by long-established Chatteris firm, Stainless Metalcraft, who were instrumental in the creation of the vision and the actual facility and secured funding from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
The Princess Royal met representatives from all organisations.
The state-of-the-art centre specialises in providing apprenticeships, professional development and commercial courses in engineering and advanced manufacturing but also delivers management, digital technologies, business support and health and social sciences, which are in high demand from local employers.
During the visit, The Princess Royal was given a tour of the facilities by the Group Principal of University and Professional Development at the Eastern Education Group, Laraine Moody.
HRH met and chatted with current engineering apprentices, and met lecturers and programme leaders as well as local school children taking part in the Skills Escalator programme in conjunction with local businesses. The visit concluded with HRH unveiling the commemorative plaque.
She met with Dr Nikos Savvas, CEO of the Eastern Education Group along with staff and students from this organisation.
Dr Savvas said: “It is such an honour to have HRH Princess Royal with us today and to celebrate the opening of the North Cambridgeshire Training Centre. Today is a truly momentous day for the region! The centre will serve as an incredibly important place in the community, equipping the upcoming generations with the tools and knowledge necessary to thrive in their careers, contributing significantly to the local economy’s growth.”
The Princess Royal also met apprentices and staff from Stainless Metalcraft including, Austen Adams, chairof the North Cambridgeshire Place Development Board and divisional managing director of Avingtrans PLC’s Process Solutions and Rotating Equipment division, which is home to Stainless Metalcraft.
Austen said: “We were thrilled to welcome HRH Princess Anne to Chatteris once again and delighted that she agreed to formally open the new centre.