Official Opening of Bucks UTC with HRH the Duke of York
His Royal Highness The Duke of York KG, joined Lord Baker, sponsors, employer partners and students Wednesday 29 January at the opening of Buckinghamshire University Technical College (UTC) in Aylesbury. The Duke spent time with the IT and Construction students who explained the ‘hands-on’ projects they’ve been working on during their first term. The IT students demonstrated their expertise in building a computer and a new computer game they had created, whilst the construction students were pleased to show their bricklaying skills.
HRH said: “Having listened to the students today I can see that they have clearly grasped the challenge, understood the purpose of the UTC and I believe they will make a significant difference both to their own futures and their community.”
The Duke last visited Buckinghamshire UTC a year ago, to host a lunch with local dignitaries, business leaders and partners. At that time, the building was under construction, so the students were delighted to be able to show HRH their £10m building and its excellent facilities.
30 employers are on board providing ‘hands-on’ projects for the students. Course curriculums have been designed in partnership with Taylor Wimpey, Cisco, Esri UK and McAfee, bringing their industry expertise together to give students valuable work-related experience. Programmes during the first term have included a timber frame project with Taylor Wimpey, IT coding workshops with McAfee and Geographic Information Sessions with Esri UK. Support for further and higher education is provided by Aylesbury College and Bucks New University.
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey was one of the first employer partners to sign up to support the UTC. Their Chief Executive Pete Redfern said: “It’s absolutely vital that our industry does its utmost to support youngsters who choose to pursue careers in construction, and it gives us great pleasure to work in partnership with Bucks UTC to nurture the housebuilders of the future.”
Bucks UTC is recruiting students aged 14-19 for its Construction and IT courses in September 2014. The next open event for interested students takes place at Bucks UTC on Wednesday 12 February, 1700-1830. Further information is available on:www.buckinghamshireutc.co.uk