WREXHAM'S Hightown Barracks are to become the new home to a North Wales military training college.

Wrexham Military Preparation College (MPC), which is one of 35 across England and Wales, is set to move from its existing base at Wrexham Technology Park, to the town’s historic barracks.

Their new base, which is home to the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Welsh and Wales Universities Officer Training Corps, is steeped in military history.

MPC say the move will result in a superior teaching and learning environment and a greater emphasis on military training.

The company offers a range of courses, which are described as being academic, functional and health and fitness-based.

They also provide training in physical fitness, public speaking and communication.

MPC say their new home at Hightown Barracks will be an inspirational place for the 16-19-year-old students to learn from the tutors, who are all ex-British armed forces personnel.

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The company's director of business development, Dan Shooter said: “The move will be of enormous benefit, not only to our current cohort of learners but to the many more expected to follow in their footprints.

“Although not all our learners go on to military careers, many do, so to be able to educate the learners in a setting such as this will, we hope, inspire them and showcase the vast range of career opportunities offered by our armed forces.”

Dan Shooter added that since they were set up in 1999, MPCs across England and Wales had prepared almost 5000 young people for a military career and helped a further 22,000 into other careers.

For more information about Military Preparation Colleges, visit www.mpct.co.uk or call 0330 111 3939.