Toyota has opened a new training academy in Nottinghamshire.

It will annually deliver training programmes for 350 apprentices for its national retail network, as well as 60 manufacturing engineering apprentices for its plants in Burnaston, Derbyshire, and Deeside, north Wales.

The academy is the only UK training facility geared exclusively to Toyota and Lexus.

Based at Castle College Highfields Automotive and Engineering Training Centre at Nottingham Science Park, Toyota did not con-tribute financially to the £14 million project.

However, it will support the centre by supplying training materials, equipment and vehicles as well as sharing developments in new technology and teaching practices.

The 71,000sq ft centre has nine workshops, a body repair workshop, a car showroom, learning resource centre and restaurant.

“It’s very much home for our apprenticeship learning now,” said Kevin Watkins, Toyota Academy general manager.

“It will improve learning because of the quality of the facility and the equipment and there is a dedicated apprentice team.”

He added: “This centre will further create a competent and dedicated workforce for the future. “Our investment in younger people can help us deliver an excellent experience for our customers. “We can grow our young people in line with our aspirations.”

Toyota Academy offers apprenticeships to technicians, parts and service advisers and paint and body repair technicians. It has also just introduced apprenticeships in sales.

As well as apprenticeships at Toyota Academy, Castle College will also train up to 600 younger students in partnership with local schools and post-16 trainees as part of the Toyota technical education programme.

The new-build, which uses environmentally friendly materials and carbon-neutral fuel, has been funded by East Midlands Development Agency, Learning and Skills Council Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City Council, with support from Castle College.

Miguel Fonseca, Toyota GB managing director, said the centre “combines Toyota’s commitment to skills, environmental leadership and corporate citizenship, in particular in the east Midlands region”.