Seven new University Technical College, backed by leading companies across the country, have been announced by the Government.

The specialist colleges, teaching 14 to 18 year-olds, will open with backing from over 30 major employers including Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley, Unilever, Hitachi, Bosch, Kodak, McCain and Kings College Hospital.

The move will bring the total number of UTCs open across the country to 57 by 2016, eventually teaching over 35,000 young people.

Former Education Secretary Lord Baker, Chairman of the Baker Dearing Trust, said: “UTCs are now an established and growing part of the education system. They have strong, cross party support and more will be announced before the election.

“Developing and nurturing an ambitious and capable future workforce is vital to the success of our economy. UTCs make sense and work for employers, universities and, most importantly, young people.”

UTCs offer 14-18 year olds the chance to combine academic subjects and technical and practical expertise in areas such as engineering, manufacturing and life sciences – skills seen as essential to support the UK’s future economic growth.

Philip Greenish CBE, Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “The UK needs many more people with skills in innovation, creativity and enterprise – skills that are fundamental to engineering and key to the UK’s competitive edge. University Technical Colleges are superbly positioned to reach out to young people from all backgrounds, male and female, and to bring to life the wonderful opportunities available from a career in engineering.

Melanie Radford, the principal of UTC Cambridge – which opens in September, specialising in teaching biomedical and environmental science and technology – welcomed the Government announcement.

New University Technical Colleges announced today:

Bromley UTC – Health and Wellbeing Sciences
Leeds UTC – Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering
Scarborough UTC – Advanced Engineering, Design & Control
Sheffield Human Science and Digital Technologies UTC – Human Sciences, Digital Technologies
South Durham UTC – Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering
UTC Crewe – Engineering, Manufacturing and Design
WMG Academy for Young Engineers (Solihull) – Engineering with Science

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