Derby: Classic vehicle centre to open in city

A £3m classic vehicle workshop which will teach young people heritage restoration skills is opening to the public.

It is the official launch of Great Northern Classics (GNC), in Osmaston Road, Derby, on Thursday, and it will then open to the public from 25 March.

It houses a collection of classic cars, motorbikes and boats.

Simon Woods, from GNC, said the heart of it was training the younger generation, which will start next year.

The workshop will run in a similar way to BBC show The Repair Shop, with mechanics, electricians and bodywork specialists based within.

GNC said the heritage vehicle industry was booming but faced a skills crisis with many restoration specialists beyond retirement age.

At the workshop, young apprentices will undertake on-site training and serve apprenticeships alongside existing specialists.

Mr Woods, director of training at GNC, said: "We are building a collective of skilled artisans which, once established, will enable us to deliver our training scheme.

"We are hoping this will start in 2025."

The 4.2-acre industrial site was the former Rolls-Royce heritage centre.

It began as the Victoria Ironworks, which GNC said was built in the 1850s, with its projects including Bennerley Viaduct and Singapore Market Hall.

GNC founder Shaun Matthews said: "It's all happening. It's pretty mind-blowing to think this was still a concept on paper only two years ago and yet now we're seeing the site fill up."

The site will house the training school, workshops for about 30 specialists, a car storage area, exhibition and entertainment space, and café.

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