Toyota Opens New Training Centre At The Nottingham Trent University

Toyota GB Chairman Kimiaki Kuroki and Managing Director Graham Smith open the new Training Centre at The Nottingham Trent University today. The VIP opening will be attended by a host of local dignitaries including, the Lord Mayor Councillor Des Wilson, Sheriff of Nottingham Councillor Ali Asghar, Mr John Peace Chairman of the Board of Governors and Professor Ray Cowell Vice Chancellor of The Nottingham Trent University.

The purpose-built National dealer training centre for Toyota and Lexus franchises is located on a 1.2-acre site at the University’s Clifton Campus. The Training Centre will provide national training support for the Toyota and Lexus dealer network, in management, operational and technical training.

The training centre includes seven classrooms, two showrooms, a fully fitted training workshop and body/paint shop as well as catering facilities and administrative offices. At its peak, the facility will provide training for over 10,000 delegates a year.

"This strategic alliance with a major university and business school is an exciting and challenging development for Toyota and its dealer network," commented Sarah Fisher Toyota GB’s Human Resources Director.

"This purpose built unit, with such a wide range of facilities under one roof is unique within Europe. The location geographically is ideal, close to the M1, to an international airport and, of course, near the Toyota manufacturing plant at Burnaston."

Professor Ray Cowell, Vice Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University commented: "The opening of the Toyota Training Centre shows our commitment to the developing role of the university in true partnership with a global company.

We have a well-regarded Business School, including a Centre for Automotive Industries Management. I am sure this new alliance will set the benchmark for others to follow. This is a further step forward for The Nottingham Trent University – and justifies our claim as an Entrepreneurial University," Professor Cowell added.

"We anticipate developing both formal qualifications and professional development programmes with the Business School, and would expect to build relationships with other parts of the university," said Geoff Davies, Dealer Training and Development Manager at Toyota GB.

"This shows our total commitment to developing knowledge and skills; quality training is fundamental to our future success."

This state of the art facility will be the national Lexus training centre, the national body and paint training centre and will provide a proportion of Toyota dealer training for the United Kingdom, complementing the facilities provided by Toyota’s main training centre near Gatwick Airport.

The £3 million Training Centre at The Nottingham Trent University will be managed by Toyota (GB) PLC as an integral part of the business, with a broad range of services provided by the university. The initial agreement is for 10 years.