Toyota Deeside apprentices complete community play space project

Apprentices from Toyota’s Deeside engine plant have completed a community project at Westwood Early Years Centre in Buckley, transforming an overgrown outdoor space into a safe and engaging play area for local families.

Officially opened last week, the project was supported by the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust and highlights Toyota’s commitment to giving back to the local community.

The new play area serves over 150 children and their parents or carers, offering a range of activities including a mud kitchen, picnic tables, an outdoor shelter, and a new pathway with safe access steps.

By clearing the overgrown vegetation and installing these new features, Toyota apprentices created a vibrant space for play and learning, contributing valuable time and skills to the project.

Craig Macleod, Chief Officer of Social Services for Flintshire, praised the Toyota apprentices for their efforts. “We are hugely grateful to Toyota and their apprentices for transforming an unusable space into an area that children can enjoy and play in a safe environment. This project makes a real difference for the children and families who visit, as well as the staff dedicated to helping vulnerable children get the best start in life.”

Councillor Christine Jones, Deputy Leader of Flintshire County Council, attended the opening and commended the apprentices’ professionalism and skill.

“It’s been a truly amazing project with wonderful results, utilising the skills of Toyota apprentices,” she said.

“The talent and maturity were evident throughout, and both Toyota and the apprentices themselves should be very proud. This space will bring so much joy to children and families, and for that, I offer my sincere gratitude.”

The project not only benefits the community but also serves as a development opportunity for Toyota’s apprentices, who gain hands-on experience and learn practical skills outside of the traditional manufacturing setting.

Tim Freeman, Trustee of the Toyota Manufacturing UK Charitable Trust, commented on the apprentices’ involvement: “What a fantastic opportunity for our apprentices to learn new skills while putting something back into our local community—a core part of what we are committed to supporting.”

Toyota Manufacturing UK, which operates the engine plant in Deeside, also produces vehicles at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire. #

The company, with a workforce of over 3,000, invested £2.82 billion in UK operations, producing over 120,000 vehicles and 269,245 engines in 2023 for export and local assembly.

This play space project is part of Toyota’s broader engagement with local communities, showcasing the company’s dedication to social responsibility and the value of its apprentices’ work.

Those interested in joining Toyota’s apprenticeship programme can keep an eye on Toyota’s website for the next round of applications for the Deeside engine plant, set to open in the New Year.