Gavin Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, is backing a local school’s bid for Government funding to set up a new engineering studio.
Codsall Community High School is applying for funds to create a specialist studio to help train the engineers of the future.
It comes amid concerns over a shortage of skills across the region in high tech engineering.
If the application is approved by the Department for Education, the school could cater for up to 75 students a year to take engineering courses at GCSE and A Level.
Gavin mentioned the bid in a Westminster Hall Debate that he secured on the UK automotive industry.
He said: “In the run-up to 2018, the automotive sector hopes to take on 7,600 new apprentices and 1,700 new graduates. Such a studio will concentrate on training the engineers and designers of the future so that South Staffordshire can provide the very best work force to Jaguar Land Rover and the aerospace sector and companies can grow with the best talent.”
The aim would be for graduates of the studio to be able to take jobs with the likes of industry giants such as Moog, UTC and JLR.
Codsall Community High School has been working with luxury car maker JLR, which is set to open its £500 million engine plant at the i54 business park later this year.
JLR announced that it would be building the factory at the i54 Business Park, near Bilbrook, in 2011.
Gavin played a key role in ensuring the success of the original bid, with the Coalition Government pledging around £10 million worth of support for the JLR plant.
Marjorie Tunnicliffe, headteacher of the Elliotts Lane school, said: “We are looking to develop engineering.
“Our academy will be offering engineering at GCSE and A-Level. We would like to improve our facilities.”
Gavin added: “This is a fantastic bid.
“We have one of the highest rated schools in Staffordshire and to have this investment would be an enormous boost to the whole area, particularly the villages of Codsall, Bilbrook, Perton and Pattingham that the school serves. JLR, Moog, UTC and others are based right on the doorstep and they provide high quality engineering and products bought all over the world.”