The Centre was opened by Ian Smith, chief executive of the EEF in the West Midlands (shown above, right), who said that by offering training to UK companies, Brammer was "addressing the problem that, more than most, is threatening to hold this country back".

Brammer’s UK MD, Ian Ritchie, told the audience that "we should be positioning ourselves as a nation where modern manufacturing is central to our future. As a leading knowledge-driven economy, Britain sits at the cutting edge of modern manufacturing – and, with the right attitudes and commitment, can continue to build on this position."

Brammer’s chairman David Dunn (shown wielding the scissors in the photograph) predicted that "this unique facility will really help Brammer UK to differentiate itself from its competitors, and to move MRO supply relationships onto a more strategic footing".