Work begins on £11m University Technical College in Leeds

Work is now underway on the £11m University Technical College in Leeds, which will provide students with the skills to work in manufacturing and engineering.

UTC Leeds is due to open in September 2016 just off Hunslet Road in the city centre, offering students a high quality education focused on Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing.

BAM Construction, the project’s main contractor, will oversee development of the 5200m² college which will provide 600 students with an education focusing on core academic qualifications as well as technical knowledge and skills.

UTC Leeds is sponsored by The University of Leeds, major manufacturers including Agfa Graphics, Siemens and Unilever and business organisations such as the EEF and Leeds Chamber of Commerce.

It is the first UTC in the Leeds City Region and will offer students the facilities that will equip them with the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in advanced manufacturing, science and engineering.

The UTC will be located in the west wing of the Braime Pressings factory, situated close to Leeds City College Printworks campus, Leeds College of Building and the new Ruth Gorse Academy.

Mark Kennedy, principal designate for the new UTC, said: “This is a major milestone for the UTC and moves us a significant step closer to our opening in September 2016.

“The UTC is sited in a historic Grade II listed engineering building adjacent to a Braime Pressings, a company with a strong reputation for manufacturing excellence. The location of the UTC combined with our wider relationship with industry and commerce puts us in the driving seat when it comes to helping young people develop the advanced technical skills needed by UK industry.”

Phil Woodhead, site manager for BAM Construction, added: “This project strengthens the industrial heritage of Leeds and it is very exciting to be part of the team bringing the first UTC to the Leeds region. We are now on site and everything is in place to deliver a fully operational college in September 2016.”

A spokesperson for architects Race Cottam Associates also commented: “This is a fantastic building and one that will be of enormous benefit to students in Leeds looking towards a career in the engineering and manufacturing sector. The site, a Grade II listed building, is perfect for the college and a good example of how older, underused industrial buildings can be re-imagined for alternative uses and preserved for generations to come.”

Work on the site starts as research reveals 66% of parents fear their child will not find a job when they leave education. 48.1% of parents said they felt stressed about their child’s education and 80% of parents believed the education system needed to change to reflect 21st century working Britain.

The research was carried out by the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, the charity that promotes University Technical Colleges. More than 1000 parents with teenagers at mainstream schools and 450 parents whose children attend UTCs were surveyed.

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