Training company Gen2 has been taken over by the City & Guilds Group.

The firm - which is the largest firm of its kind in the county with 1,300 apprentices and 250 students on higher education programmes - is based in Workington and has other centres in Carlisle, Seascale and Ulverston.

Under this new ownership the company is looking at becoming one of the Government's first Institutes of Technology, as outlined in its industrial strategy.

Gen2 was set up in 2000 and works with some of the county's biggest employers, including Sellafield and British Steel.

Mike Smith, the chief executive of Gen2, said: "Gen2’s acquisition by the City & Guilds Group, is testament and acknowledgment of the high-quality, sector-leading technical training and education capability that the company has developed since it was established in 2000.

"Being part of a wider, larger group will enable Gen2 to continue its growth trajectory and, working with the other companies within the City & Guilds Group, we hope to be able to offer our customers and their learners the best training and education to meet their future needs."

City & Guilds was set up in 1878 and is one of the world's largest vocational training organisations.

Chris Jones, chief executive of the City & Guilds Group, added: "Technical skills delivery is a core part of our heritage, and we are excited to expand our offer by bringing Gen2 into the Group. Our organisations share a clear purpose – changing people’s lives through skills development.

"The engineering and nuclear industry is anticipated to grow extensively in the future, particularly in Cumbria, but it cannot grow unless it has a skilled workforce. Gen2, as a City & Guilds Group business – and potentially as a new Institute of Technology – will be at the heart of ensuring the industry can thrive in the future."

The move was also welcomed by Lesley Brown, people transformation lead at Sellafield, who is also a director on Gen2's board.

She said: "This is fantastic news for Gen2 and great news for west Cumbria.

"The sale to the City & Guilds Group not only results in securing the company’s long-term future, but also enables Gen2 to sustainably grow further, supporting not only our training needs, but those of the wider energy and advanced manufacturing employer base both locally and nationally, which further underpins our drive to establish west Cumbria as the centre of nuclear excellence."