‘A huge boost for the next generation of skilled engineers in the Island.’

That is how Tim Crookall MLC, Minister for Education and Children, has described the gift by inventor and entrepreneur Dr John C Taylor of high-tech equipment worth more than ?500,000 to the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre (AMTC).

Dr Taylor, founder of engineering firm Strix, today visited the centre at Hill’s Meadow to unveil a plaque to mark the renaming of part of the facility the Dr John C Taylor Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Workshop.

Minister Crookall said: ‘The precision engineering sector is one of the Island’s biggest economic success stories and our products are exported the world over.

‘The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre, part of University College Isle of Man (UCM), reopened two years ago after a huge refurbishment and trains the aerospace engineers of the future.

‘The machinery, tools and software so generously gifted by Dr Taylor are at the leading edge in the industry and will be invaluable as we offer better training in line with busy order books and a growing worldwide reputation.’

Dr Taylor is one of the British Isles’ most renowned inventors. He is most famous for the thermostat control for the cordless kettle. More than two billion of his kettle thermostats have been produced.

After studying at King William’s College and graduating from the University of Cambridge, Dr Taylor joined an engineering company in Derbyshire – beginning a lifelong fascination in how things are made and work.

He said: ‘In the past, there were not the facilities to train the skilled engineers we need here on the Island. That made it unlikely that companies requiring such employees would consider relocating here.

‘The refurbishment of the AMTC is changing all that and this collection of machines is the ultimate equipment necessary to equip students with the skills the industry requires. A student learning to use these machines will open up an interesting and rewarding career for themselves.

‘To equip the centre with such a sophisticated set of computer controlled machine tools together with the necessary computers would have cost the Government half a million pounds.

‘With the squeeze on budgets, such investment was not possible. However, these machines will enable the College to train students to be of great value to the companies and the aerospace cluster.’

Dr Taylor hopes his gift, together with a realisation that engineering is no longer a ‘dirty’ trade, will encourage more women to take up engineering.

‘Hopefully the new facilities will inspire more female students to take on the intellectual challenge of using a numerically controlled machine rather than seeing engineering as requiring a blue collar and a big hammer,’ he said.

‘Better skilled students will increase their earnings potential and help ensure Manx companies have the supply of trained engineers that’s so necessary for their ongoing success.’

Photo - Dr Taylor  with Minister Tim Crookall MLC and students in front of equipment he has donated.