The Automotive Academy has given approval for two new regional 'spokes', one in south-east England and the other in the south-west.

This brings the Academy's ‘spoke’-count to five, including the existing ones in the north-east, north-west and Midlands.

Each of the spokes offers partnerships within its region involving automotive companies, educational establishments, training providers and funding bodies, and they all co-ordinate their activities through the central hub in Birmingham.

The Automotive Academy South West spoke will be hosted by the Learning and Skills Council in Swindon. The South East version is based in Milton Keynes, and its catchment area includes Ford's Transit facility in Southampton and the Mini factory in Oxford.

Academy chief executive Dr Alan Begg says: "The UK regions both accommodate significant automotive manufacturing and we now need to make sure that every company, no matter how big or small, has access to high quality, Academy-approved training for their employees."