HUNDREDS of apprentices and young students are to benefit from a £200,000 cash injection.

Eastleigh College has been awarded the Whitehall windfall because of its status as a Centre of Vocational Excellence.

Pupils aged 16 to 40 travel to the centre from miles around to receive training from tutors who regularly take industry sabbaticals to ensure their teaching stays relevant.

Now the college can take on more trainees from companies all over Hampshire and provide them with up-to-date industry standard facilities that simulate the real working environment.

Tutors at the college hope the cash boost will help to reverse the ever-increasing skills shortage in the region.

The money, which will be used to upgrade workshops used for plumbing and electrical installation students, comes as the college moves into the second stage of the three-year CoVE initiative.

It was the first centre in the county to join the scheme, which was launched by the government to deliver much-needed professional skills through high quality technical instruction.

Chief executive of the college Tony Lau Walker said: "When we bid for this money in July, we had 170 students taking a range of electrical installation, refrigeration, air-conditioning and plumbing courses.

"We are now accommodating 320, providing much-needed training to address skills shortages in the region."

Trevor Woodhouse, managing director of Hedge End firm Woodhouse Environmental Services, said: "It can only be good for businesses like ours that Eastleigh College has CoVE funding to upgrade craft and technical training facilities.

"Having been a student there at 17, I've had 30 years' experience with the college and have always been extremely pleased with the quality of the training offered."