PROFESSOR Brian Cox opened the new £20m STEM skills training centre at Middlesbrough College with a pledge to lobby for more across the country.

He said the centre – which delivers training in science, technology, engineering and maths – was an "incredibly impressive" place.

"It’s ground-breaking – there’s a real understanding here of what industry needs and the new centre is delivering the kind of training that provides real experience," he said.

"Everybody will benefit, and it’s absolutely obvious that centres of this kind are needed across the country.

"It’s an act of genius – before you can train a skilled workforce you have to ask what it is industry wants and that’s exactly what has happened here.

"It has genuinely surpassed my expectations, it should be used as a blueprint and I’ll be lobbying very hard for places like this to be supported across the country."

Staff and students welcomed the famous physicist to the £100m college campus, home to the impressive new STEM building.

He talked to scores of young scientists and engineers who are already benefitting from the centre. It replicates a genuine industrial environment with equipment and operations found anywhere in industry.

The college worked with more than 40 leading employers to shape the courses and high specification industrial equipment.

It’s the only centre of its kind and means that when apprentices and students complete their training they will possess the skills, competencies, and behaviours needed by industry.

Zoe Lewis, principal and chief executive, said: "Five years ago, Middlesbrough College had fewer than 100 apprentices – this year we will train more than 1,000 across a wide range of disciplines.

"We and our partners firmly believe that STEM education and training has the potential to transform this region’s economic competitiveness."

Thousands of apprentices will train there, along with those already working and who want to learn the latest skills and techniques. Free courses are being offered for those directly affected by the closure of SSI in Redcar.

The centre’s specialist team of trainers are industry experts who have spent many years working for leading industry operators and service companies.

The centre has three sections of industrial facilities – process operations and maintenance, an advanced manufacturing centre, and logistics and warehousing.

It also houses a control room which monitors and operates all the processes, including a control system overlooking the process hall with operator workstations.