Last updated at 16:16, Tuesday, 31 July 2012

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PLANS for a new specialist technical college, which will provide places for up to 500 students, were announced recently.

The project will see a new £10m building on land close to Energus and Lakes College, at Lillyhall, near Workington.

The college will be the first of its kind in the UK specialising in courses linked to the growing energy sector.

Named the Britain’s Energy Coast University Technical College – it will teach 14 to 19-year-olds and will be up and running in time for 2014.

The plan was given the go-ahead by the government at the end of May, following an application from Britain’s Energy Coast Campus.

It is one of 15 new state-funded ventures nationally announced under a government initiative to develop colleges relevant to the needs of the economy in local areas.

It will differ from traditional colleges, with students training in a work-simulated environment, in industry conditions, on real projects for local businesses.

Subjects will include nuclear, windfarms, tidal and hydro, biomass, anaerobic digestion, solar energies and green construction, alongside national curriculum topics.

Rob Rimmer, programme director for Britain’s Energy Coast Campus, said it would help to create a skilled workforce to make West Cumbria one of the most important areas in the UK for energy.

He said: “The site of the college is still to be decided but it will be built close to Energus, Lakes College and the new Britain’s Energy Coast Construction Skills Centre.

“It will offer a very different way of learning to young people, encouraging team working, leadership and communications skills.

“The college will be supported by employers, directly linked to industry.”

The bid was supported by the University of Cumbria, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Lakes College and Gen II Training, and had the backing of West Cumbria’s MPs Tony Cunningham and Jamie Reed.

Mike Smith, chief executive of Gen II Training, said: “Gen II is fully committed as a sponsor of the college and will bring our significant experience and expertise in vocational training and education not only to enhance the work of the UTC, but also add considerable value to its learners’ experience and educational attainment.”

Cath Richardson, principal of Lakes College said that the college will “provide an excellent and distinctive additional progression route for learners.”

Liz Beaty, pro vice chancellor of the University of Cumbria, added: “Developing progression routes for learners is a key aim for the university and the UTC model clearly offers a new opportunity to achieve this and a strong fit to meet the challenge of the future skills requirements of the energy industry in our region.”

Britain’s Energy Coast Campus will soon begin to consult, including with the local community, schools and businesses, on the development of the college before contracts with the Department of Education are finalised in the autumn.

Mr Rimmer said the job of the job of the consultation will be to make sure that the perfect University Technical College is developed for the area.

“Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster has been very supportive and we will expect its businesses now to work closely with us in shaping the UTC for their needs,” he said.

First published at 16:25, Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Published by http://www.in-cumbria.com