SOE News

Bristol training academy on top form

16th Nov 2010

Topping out: SOE President Chris Grime and S&B CEO Jon Winter

Engineering president attends topping out ceremony

Bristol-based S&B Automotive Academy held a topping out ceremony to commemorate the completion of the main structure of a new £1m facility.

Aiming to become the country’s top automotive academy, S&B will provide eco-friendly, hi-tech classrooms, containing state-of-the-art training systems, offices, bespoke workshops as well as fitness and communal areas, creating what S&B Chief Exec Jon Winter describes as a supportive, safe and stimulating environment.

Representing the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE), one of the leading professional engineering institutions in the road transport, plant and engineer surveying industries, SOE President Chris Grime attended the event to drill the final screw into the roof structure and ‘top out’ the building.

Not-for-profit S&B, which is also an SOE Academic Partner, welcomes some 600 trainees and apprentices each year to study courses ranging from truck, bus, van and car maintenance, to parts operations and auto-electrics.

Jon Winter explained the support received from SOE has been brilliant in helping to develop the engineering professionals of the future. Jon also described the master plan for S&B: “In early 2011, we will see a major facelift on all existing buildings to reflect S&B’s modern identity and during that year, we hope to see the completion of the campus by the closing of Princess Street, allowing unhindered access to all buildings.”

SOE President Chris Grime said: “The breadth and quality of training on offer at S&B is incredibly exciting for engineering, and it is inspiring to see the training needs of students highly valued by Jon Winter and all the S&B team.

“SOE and S&B have a long-standing relationship and I would like to thank them for the ongoing support of the SOE technician licensing scheme, irtec, which recognises the competence of people maintaining large vehicles – making transport safer for everyone.”