A new academy for the engineers of the future is set to open in the West Midlands.

The WMG Academy for Young Engineers opening in Chelmsley Wood will be officially opened by political and business leaders tomorrow, June 21.

The academy has been designed to engage students and generate an excitement for the engineering opportunities that will shape the creation of the high-value products of tomorrow.

There is a large workshop area as well as multi-use classrooms, designed to deliver a broad and balanced traditional GCSE and A level curriculum enhanced by vocational and technical qualifications in Engineering.

Councillor Bob Sleigh, leader of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “Fresh off the back of the launch of The West Midlands Combined Authority’s Strategic Economic Plan, it is fantastic to see the WMG Academy nearing completion.

“The SEP sets the blueprint for how the area’s economy will transform over the next twenty years and the academy will have a pivotal role to play in creating the young engineers of the future and maintaining the area’s eminence in automotive and high value engineering.

"I sincerely hope many of our young people, take up the world class training that will be on offer here from September.”

This is the second WMG Academy for Young Engineers in the region.

The centres offer the opportunity for youngsters to gain a variety of skills, which employees are seeking, in addition to core curriculum subjects, with the aim of developing a new generation of young people who are motivated to succeed.

Stewart Tait, principal at the WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Solihull, said: “Our vision is ‘business like and business led’ and for our students to be inspired by the relevance and challenge of our curriculum which includes the solving of real life industrial problems posed by our business partners.”

The WMG Academy for Young Engineers is one of 30 University Technical Colleges which are government-funded schools that train 14-19-year-olds in science, engineering and technology while they gain traditional qualifications such as GCSEs, A Levels and BTECs.

This training is supported by input from local businesses and universities.

The WMG Academy is linked to the University of Warwick and WMG, with a curriculum that has been shaped with the assistance of regional employers such as Jaguar Land Rover and National Grid.

The new WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Solihull is currently taking applications for students to start in September 2016.