KIRKLEES College officially opened its doors yesterday to a new multi-million pound engineering centre.

The timing couldn’t be better for the number of students wanting to enrol on engineering courses is at an all time high.

Applications at the college are up 30% and 45% in the case of females wanting to enrol on to engineering or motor vehicle courses compared with 2011.

That’s all good news for a sector which in recent years has found it hard going in a country which has faced a slow down in its own economy and tough overseas competition.

Huddersfield was once a town which had vibrant textile and engineering businesses proud of its innovation and skills.

Now both are beginning to see some degree of resurgence. Investment in training a new generation of young people who will have the right skills base and the appetite to help create a new source of jobs and income for the area has to be applauded.

Let’s hope the college’s new facilities will bring more students to the town eager to learn the appropriate skills and that employers will be confident that money is being invested in the manufacturing sector for the future.