Sheffield’s second University Technical College (UTC) on Attercliffe Common is due to open to students this September and is being built by BAM Construction.
The UTC on the Olympic Legacy Park will specialise in healthcare and sports sciences, and computing. Students can join at the age of 14 in Year 10 or at the age of 16 in Year 12.
Andrew Coombe is Her Majesty The Queen’s personal representative for South Yorkshire. He said: “The concept of UTCs is impeccable – responding to the demands of business and providing an alternative pathway into employment and society. It is particularly fitting that this project is a legacy of the successful British Olympics, which Her Majesty opened.”
During the site tour, Mr Coombe heard about construction progress, the new facilities and qualifications that will be on offer, employers supporting the curriculum and the careers and higher education opportunities for young people.
Mr Coombe met a range of representatives from organisations involved in the project including lead sponsor The Sheffield College, UTC Sheffield and BAM Construction.
The four-storey building has been made watertight, mechanical and electrical installations are almost complete and an external fence is being installed with trees being planted. Furniture is due to be fitted next week.
The UTC will train 14 to 19-year-olds in the skills that Sheffield City Region’s businesses need to grow, and is due to open to students this September. Some places are still available. Visit http://www.utcsheffield.org.uk/
Sarah Clark, Principal, UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park campus, said: “It was a privilege to show the Lord-Lieutenant this exciting new facility and explain the positive impact that it will have on young people across the region as well as supporting the skills needs of employers to boost growth.”
Students will complete a technical qualification that links to the skills needed by employers regionally, in addition to GCSEs and A Levels. The healthcare science specialism leads to careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary, pharmacy, physiotherapy, nursing and midwifery and becoming a paramedic.
Studying sports science leads to careers working as an elite athlete and becoming a sports scientist or personal trainer. Completing the computing specialism links to potential future careers as a cyber-security analyst, web developer, computer programmer and games developer.
The Sheffield College is the lead sponsor of the UTC. Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry are co-sponsors.
Jason Pepper, Executive Director, Finance and Resources, The Sheffield, who chairs the UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park campus steering group, added: “The College is supporting the development because we believe the UTC offers a fantastic opportunity for young people across the region to access an innovative curriculum and work with major employers whilst they study.”
He continued: “The specialisms of healthcare and sports sciences and computing have been chosen specifically to address local skills shortages and will give students an excellent route into employment or higher education. We were delighted to showcase that to the Lord-Lieutenant during his tour.”
The UTC is located on the Olympic Legacy Park, providing a unique experience for the students to study adjacent to elite athletes and professional sports people and the opportunity to be involved with health and wellbeing research and innovations at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre.
The facilities include a three-dimensional motion capture studio, sports science laboratory, fitness suite, health and development suite including a flexible ward set up and area for an ambulance, a research laboratory, and computer suites.
The UTC, which is being built by BAM Construction and has been designed by Bond Bryan Architects, has capacity for 600 students with recruitment phased over three years. The recruitment area is Sheffield City Region, which includes South Yorkshire and parts of North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
