Business leaders seek support for UTC bid
BUSINESS leaders are campaigning for the creation of a University Technical College on the Wirral to help address skills shortages in the engineering sector and bring young blood into industry.
Headed by John Syvret chief executive of shipbuilder Cammell Laird, the group, is seeking further support from the business community and the public for the UTC bid, and are asking people to complete an online survey at www.merseymaritime.co.uk/backthebid.phuse
Other businesses supporting the plan are Vauxhall Motors, Peel Holdings, Bibby Line Group, Jaguar Land Rover, Stobart Ports, Mersey Ports, Mersey Travel. Birkenhead MP Frank Field, the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University, Wirral Council, Wirral Metropolitan College are also on board the campaign.
The application for the UTC application will be submitted in mid January.
John Syvret said: ““We need the community to send a powerful message to the judging panel that there is real support for a Merseyside UTC in Birkenhead.
“Whilst this is a terrific opportunity for our region the competition is fierce. In total 10 new UTCs will be given the go ahead from around 30 applicants from across the UK. We believe we have one of the most compelling bids on the table but we need local people to get behind it.
“We have a clear aim: to create skilled well paid jobs for young people. We know that youth unemployment is at crisis point. Equally we know there is a huge skills gap in the engineering sector, a UTC in the heart of Birkenhead will tackle those issues head on,” he said.
