The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering took a major step forward with work underway on construction of the UK's first dedicated 'faculty on the factory floor'.

Senior figures from Coventry University and Unipart donned high-visibility jackets and hard hats to take part in the ground-breaking ceremony at the manufacturing firm's Beresford Avenue site, in Coventry.

It marks the start of a six-month construction project by Lindum Group which will create a 18,300 sq ft, state-of the-art manufacturing and R&D space for training more than 40 undergraduates and postgraduates in the first year.

To mark the ceremony, new director of the Institute Dr Carl Perrin announced a commitment to spend more than £2 million on robotic automation, forming, joining, analysis and simulation, metrology and product verification technology.

"AME is set to pioneer a new higher education model for manufacturing degrees, offering a blend of innovative activity-led teaching, product development and research to create a unique learning environment," he said.

"Our dedicated facility is absolutely key to this and a lot of time has been taken in shaping the design and layout to ensure we create a world-class manufacturing and engineering environment that inspires the next generation of engineers.

"Construction has now started and will be completed by the end of  autumn, ready for us to welcome our first cohort of students.

"Breaking ground is an important milestone for the initiative. There has been a lot of talk about our vision, but now we can start to see something tangible being built and that can only help to get the message out there."

The Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering is a joint £32 million collaboration between Coventry University and Unipart.

Its aim is to develop the next generation of highly skilled, specialist engineers and operational leaders by providing students with direct access to Unipart's operations, allowing them to work on 'live' issues in a real world manufacturing production environment.