The project is the result of a unique collaboration between HORIBA MIRA and some of the top educational institutions in the Midlands, including Loughborough University, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (lead partner), Coventry University and the University of Leicester.

It will see the construction of a 24,500 sq. ft. bespoke global skills centre at MIRA Technology Park in Nuneaton.

The MIRA Technology Institute (MTI) is being created to help to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for specialist skills in the automotive sector – an issue that the UK has to solve to ensure the automotive sector continues to prosper.

MTI, set to open in September 2018, will help to create specialist skills in new disruptive technology areas such as electrification and driverless car technologies to ensure a sustainable supply of future technical specialists and engineers.

Its development follows research by the Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) to identify future skills needs.

MIRA Technology Park focuses on auto sector research and development. In the post-recession automotive renaissance in the UK, the demand for specialist technical skills has risen sharply as successful vehicle manufacturers and their supply chains have geared up for expansion and growth, but the supply of the specialist skills required has lagged behind.

MTI offers a unique solution aligned with the government’s new Industrial Strategy Green Paper by creating a sector-focused institute of technology. It is being funded with £9.5m from the Leicester and Leicestershire LEP Growth Deal Fund and is backed by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

For further information, please contact Laura Rogers or Bethany Haller at Grayling on 01212 652760 or email horiba-mira@grayling.com.