Kia cuts ribbon on new academy

Kia has marked National Apprenticeship Week by cutting the ribbon on its new academy.

The academy has moved to a purpose-built 40,000 sqft building within St. Mowden Park in Derby and will equip students with key STEM skills and knowledge to meet the rapidly evolving demands of the automotive industry.

The building has been customised exclusively for Kia UK to support advanced electrified training and upskill apprentices and colleagues.

Attending the opening was leader of Derby City Council, Baggy Shanker, president and CEO of Kia UK, Paul Philpott, Eugene Lowry, managing director of Skillnet, Leigh Jeffs, director of 3PLRE, and Julian Munday, director of Parogon.

Cllr Shanker said: “Kia has chosen to invest in Derby and its people, bringing its innovative approach and leadership in electrification to the region. Training and 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.”

Philpott added: “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.

“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.”