New students starting in September: You can find more information about College Ready Sessions and submitting your GCSE results in our online Guide. Transport and bursary information will be available from 15 June 2026.
FACULTY OF AUTOMOTIVE & ENGINEERING
You will learn and hone your Automotive & Engineering skills within specialised buildings across Cornwall including Gwenvor, Seaton and Valency, all purpose-built centres for trade skills and engineering offering a wide range of Automotive & Engineering courses.
Industry leading facilities
Purpose-built workshops and teaching rooms provide the resources to develop the knowledge needed for a successful career. You will benefit from Truro and Penwith College’s promotion of excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) including the £7million South West Institute of Technology Valency building and the STEM and Healths Skills Centre in Bodmin.
There are many opportunities to visit manufacturing, automotive and maintenance companies as part of your studies to reinforce your understanding of industrial practices. We also encourage, support and facilitate work placements for all learners to further enhance your knowledge and employability.
PRACTICAL LEARNING
On one of our engineering or mechanics courses, you’ll be practicing your trade in our purpose-built workshops. This hands-on experience will have you honing your skills with tutors who have extensive industry experience, and you’ll gain specialist insights to help you get ahead in your chosen career path.
A VARIETY OF COURSES
Our courses in this department range from an A Level in Electronics and Engineering Diplomas to Mechatronic Apprenticeships. Whatever your ability, we have a practical Automotive and Engineering course that will build your knowledge and experience in this fast-developing field. Our award-winning Apprenticeship programme allows you to earn a real wage while you learn in a working role. Under the tuition and coaching of an industry professional, you’ll develop your skills by working on real projects all while gaining a qualification.
EMPLOYABILITY & APPRENTICESHIPS
At Truro and Penwith College, we are committed to preparing students not just for qualifications, but for meaningful, long-term careers. That’s why employability is embedded into every aspect of our programmes. Working in partnership with a wide range of respected employers across Cornwall, we offer a variety of work placement opportunities to test out your knowledge, skills and behaviours with the aim that they will lead onto an Apprenticeship. Whether you’re interested in Construction, Hospitality, Automotive or Hairdressing, our Apprenticeships provide a direct route into the industry—combining hands-on experience with expert-led training and nationally recognised qualifications.
To ensure you’re ready for the workplace, we also focus on developing your broader employability skills. These include communication, organisation, teamwork, and problem-solving; core attributes that employers across all sectors value highly. You’ll have the opportunity to enhance these through real-world projects and collaborative learning.
By working closely with industry partners, we ensure our training reflects current sector needs, giving you the edge in a competitive job market and helping you make a strong, immediate impact in your chosen field.
The state-of-the-art facilities and high quality teaching will ensure your experience with us is immensely enjoyable and also equips you with the knowledge, skills and behaviours you need to thrive in this rapidly changing industry.
David Izzard
Head of Faculty
Exceptional facilities and industry experts
The state-of-the-art Institute of Technology building at Truro and the STEM & Health Skills Centre in Bodmin, opened to address the expansion of the engineering sector.
A multi-million pound investment into electric vehicles to meet industry needs has allowed the department to create truly state-of-the-art facilities that lead the industry. You will also have access to highly equipped workshops and EV Labs, allowing for learning to progress from desktop training modules to state-of-the-art training rigs with in-built faults, before progressing onto live vehicles.
Visit
You will have access to multiple trips and visits, which showcase the employment options open to you on completion of your studies.
awards
Staff have been recognised nationally with one staff member winning the Technician of the Year award at Seat and another receiving a certificate of excellence at the National Pearson Teaching Awards.
gcse
The Automotive Department works closely with GCSE and Functional Skills staff to ensure you will gain the vital core skills needed to succeed in your chosen career.
45,800
Over the next ten years, it is estimated that 45,800 technicians will be needed nationally. This builds on the 9% growth that the sector has seen over the previous ten years with 15,000 new technician roles created over that period.
Go For It, Be Confident
Hear from some of our apprentices as they share their experiences on the Level 3 Mechatronics Maintenance Technician apprenticeship.
Discover what the course involves, the skills they’ve gained, and how the programme is helping them build a future in engineering.
Not one day is the same. My Apprenticeship always calls for creative thinking and collaborating with different colleagues. I feel a sense of fulfilment as I know that there are people relying on me to fix the machinery and I am helping to change what is mainly a male industry.
Hannah
Level 3 Mechatronics Apprenticeship with Imerys
Frequently Asked Questions
To apply for an Automotive and Engineering course at Truro and Penwith College, visit the course page on our official college website and complete your application online.
Entry requirements for Automotive and Engineering programs vary. Check the specific course details on the college website or prospectus or contact the admissions office for the most accurate and up-to-date information on entry requirements.
Students at Truro and Penwith College benefit from experiences with industry leading companies to develop skills and understanding of the latest electric and hybrid vehicles. You will also have access to some of the best EV training rigs and diagnostic equipment in the country to enable you to learn vital skills for future employment.
At Truro and Penwith College you will find state-of-the-art facilities and purpose-built workshops and classrooms to equip you with the industry-relevant skills you need to succeed. Our campuses provide industry-standard engineering and motor vehicle buildings and our STEM and Health Skills Centre features engineering workshops, a health simulation suite and modern digital technology.
Yes, in addition to learning on campus, there are many opportunities to visit manufacturing and maintenance companies as part of your studies. We also encourage, support and facilitate work placements for all of our learners to further enhance your knowledge and employability.
We strongly recommend making an application for your chosen course as soon as you can when you are in your final year of school. After you have submitted your application, you will be invited to attend an interview where you can make amendments to your application if need be.