TWEED River High School is giving students the chance to further their careers in metals and engineering by providing a space to learn important practical skills.

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Karen Andrews will officially open a new metals trade skills centre at Tweed River High School on Tuesday, February 21.

The new federally funded Trade Skills Centre provides students the opportunity to study a Certificate 1 in metals and engineering, which can lead to apprenticeships in their chosen field.

Tweed River High School's acting head of trades Mark Wiggins said the nationally accredited course was a chance for students in Years 11 and 12 to get a head start on their future.

"It's the starting point of their apprenticeship,” Mr Wiggins said. "Any of these guys who are looking into getting into a metals trade, for example doing something in the sheet metal area, metal fabrication, assembly work or anything to do with metals and engineering, can complete their first year of their apprenticeship here.”

Mr Higgins said the new Trades Skills Centre would be a great advantage for students, providing them with on-the-job training.

"We've got a lot of equipment here,” he said.

"There's over $1 million in building and equipment here. It's a great resource for the kids.”

Mr Higgins said the school put in an application for the new facilities after they realised there was a gap in industry training in the area.

"We had to look at what industries we wanted to target,” Mr Higgins said.

"Tweed is a growing industry but there's not a lot of metals industry. Sometimes we have to send (the students) up to Currumbin or down to Murwillumbah or Chinderah for their work placements.

"The manufacturing industry is the biggest employer in Australia so it's important for them to start at the trade level and go all the way up to engineer level to get the workforce happening.” Year 12 student Jacob Carcary said the new centre would offer a great opportunity to learn first hand the skills needed for his future.

"I want to do mechanical engineering and work on cars,” Mr Carcary said.

"When you're out of school and you've got a Certificate 1 in metals and engineering, they're going to look at that more than someone who doesn't. I just thought I may as well do it at school and get something out of it.” Mr Higgins said the school worked closely with industry providers to ensure students were offered high quality apprenticeships.