ROYAL Wootton Bassett businesses are getting ready to welcome the thousands of military personnel coming to nearby Lyneham this autumn by launching an emblem for a forces discount.

Royal Wootton Bassett Chamber of Commerce unveiled the emblem, which local businesses can display in their windows, ahead of the opening of the Defence College of Technical Training (DCTT) at MoD Lyneham in November.

Committee members Louise Chivers and Sally Barker unveiled the emblem at a chamber social evening, a South African Braai, at the Wiltshire Hotel on July 16.

Vice-president Louise said: “The Defence college of Technical Training College is opening on our doorstep in the next few months and some of their staff are already moving in to the area.

“It’s important that local businesses maximise all opportunities to benefit from the new economy this will inevitably bring to the area.

“As a chamber of commerce we are proud to support local businesses within Royal Wootton Bassett and the wider area by launching this initiative.”

Sally, who designed the emblem, said: “I kept the design simple yet recognisable and easy to use, either on display or in advertising promotions.

“I hope local businesses wishing to offer discount to the military see an increase in their trading as a result.”

From November 9, the first tranche of trainees will begin technical courses at DCTT, and at any one time there will be on average 1,500 trainees on the site and 500 trainers.

The time students will individually spend at the college will vary up to two years as they take courses in electronic and mechanical engineering, in aeronautical engineering or in communication and information systems.

As building continues and the college expands, so will the numbers.

And it is projected that the college will see around 5,500 students and staff on site by 2019, promising to bring enormous employment opportunities to the nearby area as well as an economical boost.

Last month Hercules, the joint venture between Kier Group and Balfour Beatty who are working on the £121 million redevelopment for the MoD, announced the completion of three hangars to provide workshops, stores and classrooms to cater for the needs of the first wave of students.

They will all be members of the Army’s Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME).

Ultimately the site will be a one-stop training shop for military personnel run by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

Last month, Royal Wotton Bassett town councillor, Chris Wannell, said: “I shall be very pleased to get Lyneham back on line.

"It’s of great importance to the town and the local economy.

“I hope we will be able to have the same sort of relationship with the new college as we did with the RAF at Lyneham, because that was a very important relationship for Royal Wootton Bassett.”