MTC training courses are out of this world

MTC Training - the training arm of the Manufacturing Technology Centre - is launching a new apprenticeship and training courses to support the UK's rapidly growing space sector.

The suite of industry-leading courses will include a new Level 4 space technician apprenticeship, a graduate development programme and a series of courses to upskill space engineers.

The new programmes are designed to boost the UK's skills and capabilities in the space sector which is forecast to be worth £450 billion by 2030. The courses will accelerate industrial innovation among space-focused organisations and manufacturers with the aim of boosting productivity and driving growth.

Emma Johnstone, operations manager at MTC Training, said the apprenticeship and courses were part of the MTC's commitment to support the space sector's development in the UK.

"Space presents a significant opportunity for manufacturing companies in the UK. These courses will underpin the advances being made by UK manufacturers, creating a pipeline of future-proof engineers ready to understand and take advantage of the immense opportunities that space technology offers, and equipped with the right technological tools to address the challenge of producing the next generation of space hardware," she said.

The new space technician apprenticeship launches in September next year. The apprenticeship will provide hands-on, space-specific experience supporting future talent in the space sector. Delivered from the state-of-the-art Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) training centre in Abingdon, the 48-month course aims to create the sector's future lead engineers, helping to propel manufacturing businesses in the space industry forward.

The new graduate development space programme, also delivered at OAS, supports engineering graduates who are new to the space industry or are considering a move into the space sector. It provides practical experience with specialist space equipment in skills such as additive manufacturing in space, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, and space standards.

The innovative space-specific development courses are designed to support rapid cross-sector skills development and the upskilling of space engineers. They will cover a range of subjects from satellite manufacturing to spacecraft platform systems and design, the effects of space environments and environment testing for space.

The MTC was founded by the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham and TWI Ltd. The MTC’s industrial members include some of the UK’s major global manufacturers.

The MTC aims to provide a competitive environment to bridge the gap between university-based research and the development of innovative manufacturing solutions, in line with the Government’s manufacturing strategy. The MTC is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.

Pictured: The new MTC Training course will support the UK's rapidly-growing space sector