Science and technology company 3M opened its new Skills Development Centre at MIRA Technology Park in May and already more than 100 people have utilised the centre to receive hands-on training in the vehicle repair process at the 15,000 sq ft facility.

Gavin Phipps, technical manager at 3M, presented at Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s North Warwickshire Local Business Forum, which was attended by Rachel Taylor, MP for North Warwickshire & Bedworth.

Gavin told the gathered businesses that 3M operates in a whole host of sectors in more than 70 countries and is famous for household products including Post-it® Notes and Scotch® Tape.

The new centre, however, is focused on vehicle repair and industrial abrasives and includes a range of products and tools created by 3M.

Gavin said: “This is a great location for us. The focus here at HORIBA MIRA on transportation, and the number of manufacturers in this region, is critical for 3M.

“There is a huge overlap with what is happening here – we’re at the centre of the country which is great for getting people to us but we’re also at the centre of the industry too, with some major names based here at MIRA Tech Park and across the region.

“Training and education is really important because the vehicle repair industry is facing a lot of challenges. It is not always seen as attractive, it struggles to recruit, and so this facility can show what the industry is really like.

“We’ve already welcomed well over 100 people through the training centre from agents to end-users and, in many cases, that has a knock-on effect for the local hospitality sector too.”

The forum was chaired by Sarah Windrum, who is head of cluster development at HORIBA MIRA.

She said: “We were delighted to formally welcome 3M to our Tech Park a few weeks ago and it was great to share why they have made such an important investment in a leading skills development facility here with the Chamber’s Local Business Forum.

“And, as Gavin showed, the facility has a wider positive impact on the economy with hotel stays and restaurant bookings too.

“We were also pleased that Rachel could join us and hear about 3M’s success story as well as discuss some of the issues regional businesses are facing.”

Rachel said: “As a former small business owner myself, I know how important brilliant local businesses are to economies like ours in North Warwickshire and Bedworth. I always welcome and enjoy the opportunity to speak to businesses through this important forum, and I will continue to stand up for their interests in Parliament.”