Perkins Engines has invested £750,000 to create the new complex which has been kitted out with the latest wizardry in robotics and factory floor technology.

And the world class training facility will not just benefit employees of Perkins but also school children and people looking to start a career in manufacturing.

The impressive facilities wowed the first visitors at the official opening of the complex, off Vicarage Farm Road, where the ceremony was performed by the minister for the East England Barbara Follett MP watched by senior business leaders from across the city.

They were all itching to get a first hand look at the new centre, which has received support from the East of England Development Agency and the Government Office for the east of England, Go-East.

Mrs Follett, who revealed she went to the same South African university as Perkins president Hans Haefeli, was full of hope for the centre's future.

She said there was a high level of work skills underperformance in Peterborough and the learning centre could help turn this around.

Mrs Follett added: "There is a lack of aspiration in some young people and when I ask them what they want to do they simply shrug their shoulders and say they want to be famous.

"But they don't know want they want to be famous for, and in a world of Big Brother and other reality television shows, they think it happens overnight.

"There are five million adults in this country with no qualifications. This centre can give these people a chance to learn new skills, no matter how old they are.

"This centre is part of the ongoing plan we want to put in place for the East of England to make sure we rival on a national and international level. Everyone involved with it should be very proud."

The centre aims to train 6,500 people from Peterborough and the East of England over three years in cutting-edge production techniques to help increase the productivity of the region's businesses.

Anyone taking the course soon learns the ins and out of working in a fast-paced modern factory environment, and expert advice is on hand from specially trained Perkins employees.

It will also enable Perkins to work with secondary, further and higher education establishments, to support relevant courses and rekindle an enthusiasm for manufacturing and engineering among Peterborough's youth.

Mr Haefeli said: "Perkins has demonstrated a significant commitment to keeping and growing its manufacturing capability in this region.

"Our aim is to drive-up productivity and quality while taking research, development and process engineering to new levels."

Find out more, visit www.thelearningcentre.info