Toyota is to base its training centre for all its European manufacturing staff at its plant in Burnaston, Derbyshire.

An investment of more than £11m will see the creation of a purpose-built European Global Production Training Centre (E-GPC), due to be operational from early in 2006.

“Toyota’s European production training centre will play a vital role in ensuring our manufacturing employees receive the training and development they need to continue to provide our customers with superior quality vehicles,” says Shinichi Sanaki, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing Europe.

The E-GPC will serve the carmaker’s plants in the UK, France, Poland, Turkey, Portugal and the Czech Republic, delivering training in key production skills and equipment maintenance.

Since 1992 Toyota has invested almost £2bn in its Burnaston plant, where it assembles the Avensis and Corolla.