The University Technical College would offer courses backed by industry

The city council is carrying out a survey to see what local feeling is like for its proposed Preston University Technical College.

The Guild Technical College, as it would be known, is currently under consideration by the government after a £10 million bid by the city council and the University of Central Lancashire.

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Now Preston City Council want to apply pressure for the government to say yes as they release a survey to see if the idea of a technical college appeals to Prestonians.

The University Technical College would be aimed at 14 to 18 year olds and would give them a 40 hour week focused on construction and building courses.

Welcoming this next step in the bidding process, UCLan’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Lynne Livesey said: “This is fantastic opportunity for Preston. We are talking about equipping up to 600 fourteen to eighteen year olds with new skills in construction and design. There is a skills gap in this sector of the economy which the Preston Guild UTC aims to address.

“Preston is the perfect place for the new technical college. The city is vibrant and growing with over £400m of City Deal funding being invested in the local area over the next 10 years. This will see new businesses grow and flourish and in turn create whole new opportunities for design and construction. With over 20,000 new homes planned for the Preston and surrounding area alone, the city will be a key investment and construction centre for many years to come.

“At Preston Guild UTC, our pledge is thatevery student who successfully graduates will have an offer of a university place, an apprenticeship or industry relevant job. This is a great prospect for anyone aged between fourteen and eighteen and we are sure the college will be popular with students and parents alike.

“We are in the final stages of making the case for a Preston Guild UTC ready to put to Government Ministers and we want to hear from local people about how the proposed new University Technical College could help them or if parents, their children, to launch successful careers in the future.”

Lorraine Norris, chief executive of Preston City Council, said the council was looking at a Winckley Square base for the technical college.

She said: “The Preston Guild UTC is an excellent concept and has wide spread support from across the city. Preston is uniquely placed to train designers, engineers and construction workers of the future in a wide range of both high tech and traditional skills. The City has great transport and communication links and has a proud history in the industrial, construction and engineering sectors.

“Based in Winckley Square, the proposed Preston Guild UTC would bring a further investment and an economic boost to the City Centre. We hope that people are able to take part in the survey and have their say on the future of this exciting project.”

The College, if funding is approved, would open in 2016 for entry into years 10 and 12 and be based in the city centre.

The survey can be filled out on the council website and is open until Tuesday 6 May.

What do you think? Is a University Technical College a good idea or not? Let us know in the comments below