Tyre experts help thousands to get a grip on new skills

MORE than 20,000 people from 30 countries have improved their skills at a Stoke-on-Trent training complex.

The milestone has been passed by the Michelin Training Centre after it relocated from Watford in 2002.

Since then experts have trained between 2,500 and 4,500 delegates a year.

Many of the trainees come from outside the area, helping to boost the economy of North Staffordshire.

Richard Whitehurst, manager at the Trent Vale centre, said: "It's good for Stoke-on-Trent. I'm a Stoke-on-Trent lad and I'm pleased to say we are bringing in a lot of business to the area.

"They stay for two to three nights in hotels and go out in the restaurants around here.

"It's extra business for the area that is only here because of us."

More than half of the visitors are not Michelin employees, and many come from tyre shops such as ATS and Kwik Fit.

The Stone Road complex is kitted out with a range of tyre fitting machines, five lecture rooms with digital film equipment and a mock tyre shop for retail sales role play.

Training covers all aspects of the tyre industry including fitting, repair and renewal as well as management and other business skills.

Police and accident investigators are also taught how to identify when tyre failure has contributed to incidents and how to determine the cause of that failure.

Examples of tyres involved in accidents are stored on site, ranging from tyres with a lack of tread to tyres shattered by liquid nitrogen or melted by thousands of volts when a tipper lorry hit power lines.

The centre, which is adjacent to the manufacturer's Stoke factory, brings in sales of between £400,000 and £500,000 a year.

Mr Whitehurst said: "The fact that we bring in a reasonable amount of money means Michelin is prepared to keep investing in the facilities here.

"And because people are trained here they are more likely to be advocates of Michelin products.

"In the future we would hope to keep the good work going, and we see overseas demand growing.

"Michelin is expanding in India and they prefer to come here rather than going to one of our centres in France because of the language."

At the moment the centre is delivering a 13-week course for an Indian man and a 12-month programme for a Michelin employee from Japan.

It is accredited by the Institute of the Motor Industry, City and Guilds and, from last month, Staffordshire University.

Bryan Carnes, chief executive at the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "North Staffordshire has been very fortunate to have Michelin as a major employer since the 1920s.

"During that time it has been committed to training thousands of people who have gone on to make careers in Michelin and also started their own businesses and created a lot of jobs in North Staffordshire.

"It is to their credit that they have maintained their commitment to Stoke-on-Trent even during times of manufacturing retraction."

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