University Technical College reaches for the sky

A state-of-the-art college that will work with local employers to provide students with technical skills to help build their careers in industry will complete the first phase of its own construction programme this week.

Main contractor BAM Construction will host a ‘Topping Out’ ceremony at University Technical College (UTC) Plymouth on Thursday (18th April) to celebrate attaining the highest point of the building phase of the £8 million re-development of the site in Devonport.

UTC Plymouth is set to open in September, and will offer students aged 14-19 a curriculum that blends traditional GCSEs and A-Levels and other desirable qualifications with practical projects set by employer partners large and small, such as Babcock International, Princess Yachts, Kawasaki Precision Machinery, Ginsters, Rittal-CSM, Pipex, Tool-Tech and Spinnaker.

Part of the government-funded programme to address the need for more engineers and technicians, UTC Plymouth is the first academy of its kind in the South West, and is sponsored by Plymouth University, Plymouth City Council and City College Plymouth.

Special guests from each of the sponsors, as well as some of the College’s new students and employer sponsors from across the city, will join the project team from BAM for the ceremony at which Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor at Plymouth University, and Tudor Evans, Leader of Plymouth City Council, will tighten a ‘golden rivet’.

Professor Purcell said: “This fantastic facility demonstrates again the transformational nature of our city partnerships. Together we are regenerating this site in historic Devonport to create a first-class education and training academy. And through partnership with our sponsors and employers, UTC Plymouth will provide a genuinely innovative, experience-rich education for young people in the city and the wider region.”

BAM commenced on site in July 2012 removing asbestos from the former Devonport High School buildings. Work is now underway on the facilities, including seven ‘mega-workshops’ where students will gain practical, hands-on skills in areas such as product design, pneumatics, hydraulics and precision measurement, systems and control, and precision engineering.

Council Leader, Councillor Tudor Evans, said: “Plymouth is home to some world-leading manufacturing and engineering companies, whose ambitions and growth plans will require a regular infusion of skilled, technically-qualified young people. With UTC Plymouth, our employers play a direct role in the education and training of that talent, helping them to stay and develop their careers here in the city. UTC Plymouth is exactly what we are about as a city – it will create jobs, encourage growth and create a workforce that will perfectly complement the city’s vision for the future – to be the wealth generator of the South West but leading in marine matters for the UK.”

With a catchment area 45km in radius from Devonport, UTC Plymouth will initially have places for at least 150 students in Years 10 and 12, rising to a capacity of 600-plus by 2017.

As well as the academic and practical learning devised by the partners – which will enable students to take technical or professional routes through the curriculum – students will also participate in sport and other enrichment and challenging activities including an emphasis on enhancing their entrepreneurial, innovation and employability skills. And mindful of the industry-based ethos, with a longer working day (8.30am-5.30pm), homework and other personal assignments will be completed at the college, and every student will be provided with a laptop to encourage a more dynamic high-tech method of working.

UTC Plymouth’s Principal Mary Cox said: “Our students will have the opportunity to take a highly regarded, full-time, technically orientated course of study – with projects set by key local industry figures – alongside a familiar core curriculum. We’ll be offering clear progression routes with no dead ends into further education, higher education, or directly into the local economy.

“We’ve had a fantastic response from the community and some very strong application rates – and we’re looking forward to welcoming further interested students at our next Open Day at the University on April 23rd.”