GD26 – Bridgwater and Taunton College Advanced Centre for Engineering

The Advanced Centre for Engineering (ACE) involves two re-development phases on the Taunton campus:

  • Phase 1: Spray booths and body workshop; Laboratories; Mechanical/aeronautical engineering ; Aero engine and part.
  • Phase 2: Electronic suites, laboratories and ICT suites; Taxi status airframe and hangar space; Mechanical & electrical engineering equipment.

ACE supports the growth of the advanced electrical engineering industries through: High level facilities for level 2 and BSc Hons learners and the rapidly growing SME sector locator along the M5 and A38; Becoming an integral skills partner for the South West region and the development of Hinkley C; Developing a STEM skills base

Outputs:

1,047m2 Refurbished training/learning facilities
Follow-on investment at site £2,800,000
Increase in learner numbers from 2013/14 over 5 years with respect to subject sector areas engineering and the built environment across all curriculum provision types – 1,283

Increase in learning numbers from 2013/14 over 5 years with respect to subject sector areas engineering and the built environment across all curriculum provision types excluding higher education and community learning – 1,095

Engagement with HotSW employers during the ACE project. (Engagement represents a minimum of 1 employee per employer undertaking education and/or training within engineering or the built environment within the ACE facilities) 50 employers in year 1; 100 employers by year 5

Growth Deal 1 Funding: £0.6m

Total Funding: £1.79m

Started on site: July 2015
Compled: March 2016

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    David Ralph

    Chief Executive

    David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

    Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

    David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.