MORE than 150 students have signed up for places at a new £10m engineering centre of excellence, The Northern Echo can reveal.

The South Durham University Technical College (UTC), in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has attracted 161 youngsters.

Bosses say they expect the number to rise ahead of its September opening and have also confirmed they are close to recruiting a number of teachers.

The college, led by the University of Sunderland, will educate youngsters between 14 and 19-years-old in a business environment by providing extended work placements and core subjects, such as English, maths and science.

The building will include an engineering block, science labs and classrooms, an IT suite and a gym.

Tom Dower, principal, said the UTC will be vital as manufacturing companies push to fill a skills gap, adding he needs more staff to complement newly-appointed faculty directors, senior managers and subject tutors.

He said: “Every year the UK produces fewer engineers than it needs and employers, both locally and nationally, have opportunities for highly-skilled young people.

“We are a school with a strong focus; our students will study a good range of GCSEs and A-levels and we will have very high expectations.

“We will also give them the chance to develop their technical knowledge by working with employers, and they will have contact with top professionals and teachers with strong industry experience.

“We’re a small school so we’ll know our students well, and small classes mean we’re more focused on a student’s individual needs.

“With the building almost complete, we are focused on assembling a strong team of qualified teachers and support staff.”

Bosses previously confirmed former Air Traffic Controller, Jenny Trapp, as deputy principal.

Ms Trapp is leaving an assistant headteacher role at Queen Elizabeth High School, in Hexham, Northumberland, to join the UTC, and has been involved in employing its first wave of staff.

She added: “I’m extremely pleased we have so far recruited a brilliant team from school, further education and business backgrounds.

“Over the coming weeks, we’ll be working to finalise courses and students will be invited to make final subject choices before the summer break.”

The UTC is supported by Aycliffe-based trainbuilder, Hitachi Rail Europe, and car chassis maker, Gestamp Tallent, who both need young staff to maintain their growth.

The college’s first year will consist of Year Ten and Year 12 pupils.

Year 11 and Year 13 students will join in future years, with bosses previously revealing ambitions to have 600 youngsters by 2018/2019, made up of 150 pupils across every group.