A £10M engineering centre of excellence has opened in the region aimed at nurturing the next generation of workers.

The South Durham University Technical College (UTC) is guiding its first 150 students at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

The site, close to Hitachi Rail Europe’s trainbuilding plant, is led by the University of Sunderland.

Providing education for youngsters aged between 14 and 19 in a business environment, it will offer extended work placements and core subjects, such as English, maths and science.

Tom Dower, principal, said the UTC will be vital as manufacturing companies push to fill a skills gap.

He said: “We’re providing a very different education for students, which focuses on hands-on learning to prepare young people for the world of work.

“We’ve worked hard to design the spaces, build links with employers and design a curriculum which gives students a real insight into working life and the skills needed to succeed.”

The UTC is supported by Hitachi and fellow Aycliffe company and car chassis maker, Gestamp Tallent, which both need young staff to maintain their growth.

However, bosses say the site will offer potential workers for a raft of local firms, be they on Aycliffe Business Park or farther afield.

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

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

Darren Cumner, Hitachi’s manufacturing plant manager said: “We wanted to create a pipeline of young people to become the next generation of engineers, technicians and managers in the North-East.

“This is a life-changing opportunity for youngsters to explore careers in industry and for employers to get to know and shape their future workforce.”

Plans for the UTC previously suffered a setback when the Department for Education favoured bids from London, Peterborough, Lincolnshire and Lancashire, despite strong backing from then Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, and former Transport Minister, Stephen Hammond.

However, a fresh proposal was subsequently accepted, with the college built by contractor Willmott Dixon, which used steelwork from suppliers in Middlesbrough and Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

  • See Wednesday’s 12-page Jobs & Business supplement for an in-depth look at the South Durham University Technical College