MMU backs £10m Warrington tech college scheme

MANCHESTER Metropolitan University (MMU) is to provide sponsorship  for the £10m University Technical College Warrington Trust (UTCW) project, due to open in September 2016.

University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are Government-funded colleges offering 14 to 19-year-olds an alternative education to tradition schools.

They teach students technical and academic subjects in an innovative and creative way within a work-based context, aiming to educate the inventors, engineers, scientists and technicians of tomorrow.

UTCW will specialise in energy and engineering and will offer an  opportunity for the young people in the area region to work with major energy and engineering employers based in the town, including Sellafield Ltd, National Nuclear Laboratories, AMEC Foster Wheeler, Tenet Consultants, Nuvia, Atkins and Flamefast.

Despite the withdrawal of University of Chester in February the project retained the full commitment of the employers in the sector, the support of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust (the charity behind the UTC programme).

The UTCW Trust has subsequently pursued options to advance the scheme and MMU has now declared its sponsorship of UTCW.

Construction of the futuristic facility will commence in the coming weeks and sit adjacent to the complementary Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Business Incubator under construction and set to open in September 2015 at Stadium Quarter.

A spokesperson for UCTW Trust said: “Whilst we were sorry that University of Chester felt unable to continue with the project, all partners are absolutely delighted to have Manchester Metropolitan University on board.

“Their swift decision to step in to support UTC W is a great endorsement of the project and of Warrington and its ambitions. We are looking forward to working with MMU and developing this superb opportunity for the benefit of the young people of Warrington and the town in general.”

Dr Georgina Harris, head of the School of Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “We are delighted to be joining the Engineering and Energy University Technical College, Warrington, and we recognise the importance of the advanced engineering sector to the local economy.”