Car giant officially opens new UK training academy in Derby

Global car giant Kia has officially opened its brand-new UK training academy at St. Modwen Park Derby.

The 40,000 sq ft purpose-built Kia Academy will equip students with key skills and knowledge to forge a career in the automotive industry.

The building has been created to facilitate advanced electrical training as well as upskilling apprentices and adult learners.

The official opening comes hot on the heels of Swedish-owned medical technology firm Getinge launching its new UK headquarters at St. Modwen Park Derby, which is a new business park being created by St. Modwen Logistics.

Councillor Baggy Shanker, leader of Derby City Council, cut the ribbon on the new Kia Academy.

He said: “I started my career as an apprentice engineer in Derby over 30 years ago, so it was a great honour to have been invited to open this fantastic new training facility.

“Kia has chosen to invest in Derby and its people, bringing its innovative approach and leadership in electrification to the region.

“Training, technical skills, and innovation have always been at the heart of Derby, and we look forward to and welcome the successful unification between Kia and the area. I am excited to see the future of the automotive industry upskill, learn and thrive in Derby.”

The official opening of the Kia Academy took place during National Apprenticeship Week last week to emphasise Kia’s dedication to training and nurturing new talent.

Kia offers a variety of apprenticeships, which are brought to the public by a partnership between Kia and Skillnet, the UK’s largest supplier of apprenticeships in the automotive industry.

Paul Philpott, president and chief executive at Kia UK Limited, said: “We are delighted to officially open the all-new Kia Academy here in the heart of Derbyshire.

“I would like to offer my gratitude to Councillor Shanker for opening this exciting facility, which will be the home for all Kia apprentices and adult-learners.

“As the automotive industry advances with electrification at its heart, we continue to highlight the importance of technical training and apprenticeships.

“These students will become the industry-leaders of the future and form the backbone of Kia.

“I am excited to see how the Kia Academy grows over the coming years and watch as it engages and educates the next generation of Kia experts.

“Having first launched our apprenticeship programme 19 years ago, the all-new Kia Academy marks the next confident step in our journey to becoming a leading provider in sustainable mobility.”

St. Modwen Park Derby has so far proven popular with international companies.

In addition to Kia and Getinge, German-owned heating technology giant Vaillant has taken space at the business park with a new facility manufacturing heat pumps.