Coventry City FC has joined with Coventry Technical College to offer free work training for the unemployed in Hillfields.

The offer also extends to employees of companies located in the area who want to upgrade their work skills and the aim eventually is to develop a University for Industry learning centre.

A fully equipped education and training centre will be established at Coventry Technical College in the Butts as part of the Hillfields Urban Initiative. The centre will switch to Coventry City’s new state of the art stadium in Foleshill when it opens in 2001, by which time, trainees will be accepted from all parts of the city.

Coventry City and Coventry Technical College have contributed £25,000 to the cost of the centre.

The aim is to provide free job search skills in basic computing, preparation for work, overcoming barriers to learning and basic maths. There will be daytime and evening courses, training for business and industry will also be offered at the centre, information on which can be obtained from the Business Development Unit at the College on 01203-526791 or 526938.

Ric Allison, commercial director at Coventry City FC, said:

"We are delighted to form this partnership with Coventry Technical College. It is a significant provider of training and education in the city and it meets our aspirations as a football club to be involved in our local community.

"It was hoped to site the centre at Highfield Road Stadium, but there was insufficient space. It will be housed at Coventry Technical College in the Butts, but will move to Arena 2000 when it opens. It is our intention eventually to integrate the new centre with our soccer academy so that our young footballers can also take advantage of the training on offer."

The Centre will be known as The Coventry City Football Club

Education and Training Centre.

Roger Deats, Principal of Coventry Technical College said:

"The football club’s move to its new stadium will provide a wonderful impetus to develop, in partnership with the College, a University for Industry learning centre which will clearly demonstrate the club’s commitment to the Coventry Community Plan."