Wolverhampton engineering centre shown off to new city MP
A state-of-the-art technical engineering centre in Wolverhampton welcomed one of the city's new Conservative MPs to find out about its work.
Zurich Insurance runs the centre, which opened in April last year, at a unit on Steelpark Industrial Estate, Steelpark Way.
Wolverhampton North East MP Jane Stevenson was given a full tour and practical demonstrations of the technical equipment at the site.
The MP met head of engineering John Hartigan who explained how Zurich is investing in its staff, technology and the city.
The Zurich Technical Engineering Centre, which has 25 staff, provides services including welding procedures, welder approvals, material safety testing, non-destructive testing and training to clients and surveyors.
As well as housing a vast array of machinery the purpose-built centre is the base from which more than 550 of Zurich's surveyors carry out engineering inspections across the UK.
Zurich has more than 80 years’ inspection insight and 50 years’ experience writing engineering insurance.
Its engineering consultancy teams were previously split across two sites with Zurich laboratory services based in West Bromwich providing a wide range of mechanical, metallurgical and chemical testing and the engineering surveyors based out of its Birmingham office.
Zurich has partnered with two schools in the West Midlands as part of its Youth Skills programme and runs regular sessions with pupils to encourage them to consider careers in insurance as well as effective CV writing, interview skills, and financial literacy.
A youth skills session for girls studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects at Holly Lodge High School, Smethwick, was due to have been held at the time of the MP's visit.
The event, which was intended to inspire them to think about careers in engineering and insurance, was called off because of the current concerns over coronavirus.
Zurich media relations officer Nicola Cannings explained: "In light of the coronavirus issue our UK staff have been advised against non-essential travel and it was decided to cancel the students' visit as a precaution. It will be re-arranged once coronavirus is no longer a concern."
