NEWS 8 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS October 2026 www.hpmag.co.uk represented is truly extraordinary. “What is particularly exciting is how readily manufacturing heritage and emerging technology now sit side by side. Longestablished expertise continues to evolve, while newer manufacturers are building the skills and technologies that could become part of our next generation of manufacturing heritage. “The sheer breadth of this shortlist proves there is no single measure of impact in British manufacturing. Whether through innovation, leadership, exports or the contribution businesses make to their communities, these manufacturers are creating value in remarkably different ways. We are immensely proud to bring them together through the Impact Awards and to celebrate the people and ideas shaping what British manufacturing becomes next.” The Made in Britain Impact Awards recognises manufacturers across eight categories: Sustainability Initiative of the Year, Social Impact in Manufacturing, Innovation of the Year, Heritage Manufacturer of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Excellence in Procurement, Heroes of British Export and Inspiring Leader of the Year. Organised and hosted by not-for-profit trade organisation Made in Britain, the awards are open exclusively to manufacturers that have gained the right to use the internationally recognised Made in Britain trademark, which 70% of UK adults surveyed by YouGov said would make them more likely to purchase a non-food product. To explore the full shortlist, please visit: www.madeinbritain.org/news/the-shortlist-impact-awards2026-sept-26 MTC has officially opened a new training centre in North Tyneside designed to help address skills shortages and build the pipeline of engineering and manufacturing talent available to employers across the North East. Based at Cobalt Park, MTC Training Tyneside is expected to support more than 40 apprentices in its first year, growing to over 100 annually as its training provision expands. Once fully established, the centre is expected to have around 300 learners enrolled on programmes at any one time. The opening comes as the government and regional leaders look to drive growth in high-value industries, boost productivity and create skilled jobs across the UK’s industrial regions. Delivering that growth will require a workforce with the right skills, at a time when businesses are already struggling to recruit. In the North East, home to 663 active advanced manufacturing firms, around 59% of vacancies are hard to fill and more than 37% are linked to specific skills shortages, according to the North East Evidence Hub. Drawing on MTC Training’s established presence in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxfordshire, the new Tyneside centre will bring its training offer closer to North East businesses. Through apprenticeships and wider opportunities to upskill and reskill existing workforces, the centre will respond to the needs of local industry while helping develop the talent required to support ambitions for future industrial growth. Commenting on how the new centre will support employers across the North East, David Grailey, Managing Director of MTC Training, said: “The North East has a proud industrial heritage and is home to some of the UK’s most important manufacturing industries. Maintaining that strength means ensuring businesses have access to the skilled people they need to grow, adopt new technologies and remain competitive. “MTC Training Tyneside allows us to respond directly to manufacturers in the region, developing skills locally and working with employers as their requirements evolve. In doing so, we can help businesses build their future workforce, support growth in the North East and strengthen the UK’s industrial capability.” The centre’s initial training offer has been shaped by feedback from North East employers, who identified a shortage of the skills and knowledge needed to work with increasingly complex equipment as manufacturing becomes more automated. In response, Level 3 Mechatronics Maintenance Technician and Engineering Fitter apprenticeships are among the first programmes to be delivered. The programmes will provide a route into engineering and manufacturing careers, with the majority of MTC Training apprentices remaining with their employer after completing their training and progressing into specialised roles such as Engineering Technician, Reliability and Maintenance Technician and Service Engineer. The first apprentices to train at the new centre, including Molly (23) and Layla (19) – both from the local Tyneside area – will begin their training this autumn, with further cohorts expected from early 2027. The development of MTC Training Tyneside has been supported by Lloyds Banking Group. This forms part of a wider strategic partnership, where Lloyds has committed £18.5million to the end of 2029. This has supported more than 5,000 apprentices, graduates and engineers through MTC to date, which is set to increase in line with the new Tyneside opening. MTC Training Tyneside was officially opened today by Dr Graham Hoare OBE, CEO of MTC, at an event bringing together businesses, partners and stakeholders from across the North East. Guests toured the new facilities, watched practical training demonstrations and met apprentices from MTC Training Tyneside’s inaugural class. Tyneside training centre to support 100+ new apprentices a year Left to right: Molly and Layla, part of the first cohort of apprentices to be trained at MTC Training Tyneside
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