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Toyota UK’s manufacturing and sales and marketing businesses have completed a joint venture to establish a new national skills centre at the brand’s Burnaston production centre.

The centre, now an integral part of the Derbyshire site, will host apprentices and staff from across Toyota’s vehicle operations, including manufacturing, sales, after sales and marketing, and also from its wider network of component supplier businesses.

The new premises were officially opened by Andy Pfeiffenberger, senior vice president, corporate administration, Toyota Motor Europe, and provide a range of facilities designed to mirror the environment in Totota and Lexus’ workshop and sales environments.

Andy Pfeiffenberger said: “This new Academy shows Toyota’s commitment to investing in people to raise standards across our industry and I am very proud to be a part of this important and significant event.

“It is a great learning environment for our network staff in which to learn and for both TGB and TMUK to engage young people in our brand through our apprenticeship schemes.”

A replica production line has been created along with two vehicle showrooms, nine workshops and 16 training rooms.

Operating the site will be a staff of more than 20, including managers, administrators and trainers in specific skills.

Those attending the Academy will be able to gain qualifications through courses in the Toyota Team 21 programme, including Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) accredited courses for young people starting out on their careers and functional skills such as maths, English and ICT.

Paul Van der Burgh, president and managing director, Toyota (GB) PLC, said: “The creation of a state of the art Academy has raised the bar in terms of the quality and standard of the training we are now able to provide to our network staff and also for young people through both our TGB and TMUK Apprenticeship schemes.

“We have invested in the latest learning technologies and we are committed to inspiring learning and developing people’s skills across the board.”

Toyota’s UK training programme has so far seen almost 250 sales consultants, after sales advisors and technicians achieve the highest gold or master status.

Its apprentice programme, rated outstanding by Ofsted, currently trains 200 young people from its network of UK centres.