STRATFORD College's engineering department has aimed to put its troubles behind it by opening a new engineering workshop.

The opening comes just months after the college announced it would have to close its full-time engineering courses because of a lack of students enrolling.

However, the decision to run only higher education and work-based training in the subject appears to have paid off and the completely refurbished workshop will be home to an increased number of students.

The college announced the closure of its two remaining full-time engineering courses last March.

At the beginning of the academic year in 1999, some students who wanted to study at Stratford were redirected to Warwickshire College's engineering centre at Leamington although it was announced in March that the remaining two courses would be closed down at the end of the year.

However, despite rumours that the college was to close down its vocational courses, the college and its training division South Warwickshire Training decided to change the emphasis of engineering provision to tailor it only for day-release trainees and students studying for Higher National Diplomas and Higher National Certificates.

Members of the local engineering industry, employers of trainees and students gathered at the Alcester Road-based college last Friday to see the opening of the new workshop which has seen old equipment discarded and a new design, giving students a better working environment. "The change is working, we have recruited well this year," said head of Stratford College marketing, Lara Bruselgar.

"We have got 15 students on the HND course which is a lot for a small college like ours."

Manager of South Warwickshire Training, Jean Schneider, was delighted with the new block and said it was a real asset but not just to the college.

"Students provided with such good facilities together with the excellent support and teaching within engineering is a significant advantage to the community," she said.

l STRATFORD College is once again celebrating the success of its business degree course, after magnificent showings in recent years.

This summer, seven students passed their final assessments to gain a BA degree in business administration, following last year's record success of 10 passes.