As lead partner of the West of England Institute of Technology (WEIoT) Weston College has created a WEIoT base in north Bristol’s aerospace and advanced engineering heartland through partnership working with GKN Aerospace.

The College will be opening its own Bristol WEIoT facility for delivery of Higher Education Engineering, within GKN Aerospace’s new flagship Global Technology Centre (GTC), located within the aerospace cluster that includes Rolls Royce, GKN Aerospace and Airbus north Bristol Filton sites.

Working in partnership with GKN Aerospace, the College will start teaching from the world-class Global Technology Centre from September 2021 providing an exciting and inspirational learning environment. Students will be immersed in the cutting-edge research facility and benefit from seeing modern engineering methods in operation in the same building.

The new teaching facility for Weston College will include a modular building that houses the majority of the teaching, together with use of additional training facilities, an auditorium and an Innovation Workshop. 

Initially the provision will focus on second year Higher Education Engineering students, but Weston College aims to expand its provision responding to the opportunities that will emerge as a result of the College having this new Bristol location. 

Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, Dr Paul Phillips CBE commented: “Our strategic partnership with GKN Aerospace at the GTC provides an exceptional industry-led environment where cutting-edge technologies and manufacturing techniques are being trialled and tested for industry application, which will provide a unique environment for our staff and learners, enabling the College to embed learners and staff in the latest digital and technological industry developments in the advanced engineering and manufacturing sectors.”

Dr Paul Phillips CBE continues: “Weston College’s location within the GTC means that we will be delivering learning programmes alongside world class industrial research and innovation partners also based in the GTC for the aerospace advanced manufacturing and engineering sector, cementing Weston College’s position as a leader and innovator in technical education and skills.”

Find out more about the WEIoT, here.