His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester recently visited Exeter College’s new £3 million Advanced Engineering Centre at Exeter College and met with key industry partners.

During a tour of the centre, The Duke was able to find out more about both students and staff, and how they benefit from the centre, which is a leading hub of excellence for virtual welding and robotics.

Exeter College Principal and Chief Executive John Laramy briefed His Royal Highness about the ethos of the college and the high standard of training delivered within the facilities.

During the visit, The Duke also met with employer representatives from Axminster Tools & Machinery, Arconic and Hepco Motion. Thus, demonstrating there are strong links and collaboration between the college and its industry partners. Axminster were key in the supply of engineering machinery for the machine shops and advanced machining workshop.

Alan Styles, MD of Axminster Tools said:

It was a proud moment to meet The Duke of Gloucester. We are keen to encourage and support Exeter College in any way we can. We’ve worked very closely with the College for several years by sending apprentices, providing advice and supplying machines to the Advanced Engineering Centre which students are now able to take advantage of. We are delighted to have been involved in the setting up of such a fantastic facility here in the South West – a facility which makes Exeter College one of the best in the UK for engineering disciplines. The machines and equipment together with the high quality teaching will give Exeter College students a head start when it comes to future employment.

The new facility is an extension of Exeter College's Technology Centre. Situated on the edge of Exeter, it is meeting the growing demand regionally for skills in engineering, robotics and automated manufacturing.

Exeter College Technology Centre