EIGHT new welding machines have been bought by Bradford College to help engineering students perfect their skills.

The College has invested in new machines from US manufacturer Lincoln Electric, which has an office in Bradford. The machines have been installed at the Trinity Green campus on Easby Road, where the college delivers its fabrication and welding courses, including Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships.

Perry Rushby, fabrication and welding tutor, said: “We chose Lincoln because the machines are excellent in terms of quality, well-built sturdy machines able to cope with the heavy handed manner of some students and operators.

“We looked at numerous manufactures, but were drawn to Lincoln Electric by the wide variety of equipment available that matched our needs.

“The machines have now been installed and a full training programme was delivered by Lincoln’s product support team.”

Meanwhile, a record number of school leavers have started a demanding 16-week study programme at Kirkdale Industrial Training Services in Brighouse.

The intake has seen 110 16 to 18 year-olds taking up training.

David Todhunter, KITS chief executive, said: “The complex study programme is a ‘prefix’ intensive training module to an apprenticeship and will prepare youngsters for full-time employment with local manufacturing and engineering companies.”

He said local employers had requested 70 per cent of the new intake to join their companies as apprentices.

“This is a clear message of confidence from the industry that’s it’s business as usual despite the recent EU referendum outcome.”