Food firm and bank among employers set to work with first technical college

The plan for a UTC in Sheffield has been given Government backing and could open by 2013 although a site for it has not yet been chosen.

UTCs are schools for 14 to 19-year-olds that will deliver specialist technical training alongside traditional subjects such as English, maths and science.

Sheffield’s UTC will specialise in advanced engineering and manufacturing and digital and new media sectors.

The plan has been led by Sheffield College, with support from Sheffield Hallam University, the city’s council and chamber of commerce.

Employers who will work with the UTC include the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing, Kraft Foods, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Sheffield International Venues, and HSBC. It will have 600 students with pupils initially joining the UTC at both 14 and 16-years-old.

Andrew Cropley, principal of Norton College and Peaks College, part of the Sheffield College group, said: “This is a very exciting development for Sheffield, which will bring significant investment into the city region and provide local companies, some of which are world class, with a real opportunity to further their success.

“They will be able to expand their workforce, where there are currently gaps, with suitably skilled people trained to meet their industry needs. Our young people will gain an alternative route into high quality professional careers with the potential to progress to higher education.”

Sheffield Council leader Councillor Julie Dore said: “Not only will it provide world class expertise right here in Sheffield but it will also bring much needed jobs to the area. Our modern economy depends on advanced technical skills, and to have one of the first dedicated university technical colleges right here on our doorstep will be a great opportunity for future generations in the area. The country is desperately short of highly skilled technicians and graduates able to deal with our rapidly changing environment.

“We all want faster broadband, advanced medical technology and engineering – and now we will be able to train future generations right here in Sheffield to make sure these things happen.”