Member Article

Warrington UTC plans will kickstart economy and skills

A new educational centre in Warrington will provide a vital boost to skills and the economy in areas spanning from Liverpool and Manchester.

Plans for a University Technical College (UTC) in Warrington town centre have been launched with sponsorship from the University of Chester and industry partners, including United Utilities and Sellafield Ltd.

Professor Peter Harrop, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Provost for the University of Chester’s Warrington Campus, said: “We are proud to be sponsoring the bid for the Warrington UTC, which offers an exciting new type of education for young people in Warrington and the North West.

“The University has a campus in Warrington and will open a new Engineering and Technology Campus in Thornton near Ellesmere Port later this year making it well-placed to support the future of these skills in the region.”

Warrington Borough Council joins the list of supporters for the educational centre, which will take on a new concept for 14-19 year olds, to offer them technically-focussed courses where young people are encouraged to follow their own interests and develop them into skills.

North West industry specialisms will be catered to through the UTC, which will focus on engineering and nuclear technology.

UTC plans to work closely with local employers to offer opportunities to students and connect with businesses as part of the educational programmes.

Proposals have been put forward to situate the UTC in Warrington’s Stadium Quarter, which will soon be demolished to make way for major regeneration in the town.

The organisers have said the college will provide Warrington and the wider region with a vital boost to skills and the economy.

Local residents will need to show their support for the scheme if it is to go ahead, by registering an expression of interest in the bid.

Terry O’Neill, Leader of Warrington Borough Council, said: “The UTC will be a huge asset for Warrington.

“It will equip young people with practical training and qualifications to pursue careers in engineering and in the nuclear industry and so help protect and grow the future of the town.”

Elaine Billington, head of HR operations at United Utilities, said: “We are pleased to lend our support to the proposals to create a University Technical College.

“In particular, we are delighted to see the emphasis being placed on engineering skills, skills much needed for organisations like ours when delivering water and wastewater services to seven million customers across the North West.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .