Global chemicals firm SABIC has handed Middlesbrough College’s TTE Centre a £200,000 donation of industry-standard equipment, giving engineering and technical apprentices hands-on experience with the same technology they will use in the workplace. The gear, which includes smart transmitters and control valve positioners from manufacturers such as Rosemount, Siemens, ABB and Fisher, was welcomed by the college as a vital boost for training the next generation of Tees Valley technicians.
Much of the donated equipment is unused and reflects technology currently deployed across process and manufacturing industries. Lee Allcock, Manager Assets at SABIC, said the firm was proud to support the college. Louis Malan, Leader Operations at SABIC, added that investing in young people and equipping them with relevant skills benefits the entire region. The kit will be used by full-time students and apprentices across engineering, process operations and technical programmes, directly addressing long-standing skills shortages in the area.
The TTE Centre opened its doors in September 2024 after a £12 million construction project and was formally launched by broadcaster Steph McGovern in March 2025. It can train more than 300 full-time students, 300 apprentices and 500 adults each year, along with a growing number of international students. SABIC has been part of Teesside since 2006 through its UK petrochemicals arm, operating from the Wilton Centre and manufacturing at Wilton International and North Tees.
Although SABIC confirmed in June 2025 that it would permanently close its Olefins 6 cracker at Wilton International, a plant that had operated since 1979, the firm continues to run other facilities on the sites. John Cooke, Associate Director of TTE, said the donation will give learners invaluable hands-on experience. The equipment is widely used across sectors including petrochemicals, energy, pharmaceuticals, water and food production, helping keep the region’s workforce competitive.
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