Leyland Trucks donate prototype vehicle to Preston’s College

One of Britain’s leading manufacturing companies, Leyland Trucks, has strengthened its ongoing partnership with Preston’s College by donating a prototype truck to enhance the learner experience for Automotive Technology students.

The six-year-old truck, an 18 tonne CF Euro 6 prototype, will ensure that learners and apprentices studying at the College benefit from industry standard technology to help develop their technical skills outside of the classroom.

The prototype was built in 2012 to test the vehicle’s gearshift, brakes, noise, electrical systems, homologation, header tank and frigoblock, ahead of its official launch in 2014.

Since its launch, approximately 5,000 vehicles have been sold across 28 countries worldwide.

Ivan Shearer, HR Director at Leyland Trucks, said: “Leyland Trucks has a long standing partnership with Preston’s College and we are delighted to support them to ensure our apprentices, and other college learners, benefit from working with the latest industry standard technology.

“It is important that industry works alongside education to ensure the development of the next generation of engineers, technicians and assembly operators in the local community.”

Thanking Leyland Trucks for their kind donation, Preston’s College vice principal, Mick Noblett, added: “On behalf of the College, I would like to thank Leyland Trucks for their kind donation. The truck is housed in our state-of-the-art iSTEM Centre and learners have already begun working on the vehicle to enhance their learning experience.

“Benefitting from industry standard technology will ensure our learners develop the technical skills that employers and universities want and need.”

For more information about Automotive Technology courses at Preston’s College, please visit www.preston.ac.uk.