SCHOOLS are relishing the prospect of Dyson’s new research and design centre at Hullavington and are hoping it will provide more opportunities for their students.

The James Dyson Foundation already attracts young people to take up a career in engineering, design and research, and a number of apprenticeship schemes are available.

But schools in Wiltshire are hopeful that the new design and research centre will mean more opportunities for their pupils, whether on apprenticeship schemes or visits to the facility.

Tim Gilson, headteacher at Malmesbury School, which already has a working relationship with the James Dyson Foundation, said: “I am delighted to hear that Dyson are making this huge investment in the area.

“Dyson are a very keen and generous supporter of Malmesbury School. We look forward to continuing to work with them as they invest in the education of our young people.”

Abbeyfield School in Chippenham already has an engineering background having entered a national rocket competition for the past few years and will be introducing product design as an A-level subject next year.

headteacher Ian Tucker said: “Abbeyfield School welcomes an opportunity to work with an organisation like Dyson.

“It’s a really exciting venture and although I don’t know the full details about it I can’t see it not being a positive thing.

“I would see us wanting to work in support of it.”

News that a new multi-million pound research and development centre is to be built by Dyson on the Hullavington Airfield has been welcomed by residents, councillors and the local MPs.

The former MoD site had been on the market for more than a year and residents in the nearby village of Hullavington have been left delighted that the site is finally going to be developed.

Cliff White, who lives in Gardners Drive, said: “I think James Dyson is the sort of person that we need in this country.

“He provides jobs and work for people in the area and makes stuff that is sold abroad. I would have thought it would be great for the wider area.

“I’m sure that a lot of people won’t be living locally but at the end of the day there will be quite a contribution to the local economy.”

Margaret Bawden Rawsthorne, chairman of Hullavington Parish Council, added: “All I can say is my feeling is that the consensus of the village will be that it’s in safe hands with James Dyson.

“Whatever he does, he does it properly and I’ve been around his campus in Malmesbury and it’s perfection.

“Until we get the full details we don’t know if it’s going to have any effect, but hopefully it will be a positive one.”

Although no figure has been released on how much will be spent on the facility, Dyson has already pledged to inject £2.5billion into future technologies and currently spends £7million a week on research and development.

President of Chippenham’s Chamber of Commerce, Debbie Williams, said: “Anything that brings jobs and is going to increase the economy is a good thing. The fact that Dyson has decided to build there and not build elsewhere is fantastic.

“Unemployability is at an all-time low in Wiltshire, however there are still people seeking jobs so it’s great news.”