The CoVE award will enable the Ilkeston based college to forge ahead with plans to develop a purpose built Advanced Composites Technology Centre, due to be operational by Easter 2004.
Plans for the new £750,000 Advanced Composites Technology Centre include a clean room, wet lay up area, a state of the art trimming shop, fitting area, autoclave, oven and presses.
In the meantime, the college will be offering a range of modules introducing the theory of this subject, which will be further developed with practical elements when the technology centre is on line.
SEDC's new Advanced Composites Manager Martin Taylor-Wilde, who has 20 years experience in the industry, explained: "We are very excited about the award of CoVE status and the plans for developing this aspect of the engineering department are moving ahead at a fast pace."
Head of Engineering at SEDC Ken Erwin added: "The advanced composites centre will work alongside our engineering and construction departments, which are now housed in a purpose built £1.3 million technology centre here in Field Road."