Sheffield’s second University Technical College receives green light

A major development has been made with the plans to open Sheffield’s second University Technical College (UTC).

Sheffield City Council planners have given the project the go-ahead, approving the planning application on Friday, September 4th. UTC 2 Sheffield for Human Sciences and Computing will prepare students for employment in those two key growth sectors in Sheffield City Region.

Andrew Cropley, executive director, strategic planning and business development, The Sheffield College, said: “This is great news for young people and employers in Sheffield City Region. It marks a significant milestone for this exciting project, which will provide young people with strong career prospects and support regional business growth.”

Councillor Jackie Drayton, cabinet member for children, young people and families, Sheffield City Council, added: “Sheffield is leading the way in education with not just one, but two university technical colleges. Not only will this UTC be a huge boost in driving forward our ambition to making sure every young person gets the right training for future jobs across the Sheffield City Region, it also adds to our plans to boost education in the north east of the city, which also include a brand new through school on the same site.

“Our vision for the city is that all children, young people and families achieve their full potential. I’m pleased to be working with The Sheffield College and other partners in this venture and have no doubt this second UTC will play a big part in helping us to achieve this goal.”

Sheffield’s second UTC is being led by The Sheffield College with Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry as co-sponsors.

Te £10m facility, which BAM Construction will start work on next month, has been designed by Bond Bryan Architects, and will open at the Olympic Legacy Park in September 2016.

Specialist teaching facilities on the ground and first floors of the four-storey building, comprising 5,600 sq ft, will support learning across the breadth of the specialisms.

These feature an activity suite with three-dimensional image capture, a health and development suite, a range of computing facilities, and a central atrium will create a spacious and light learning environment.

Second and third floor terraces, and a dining space, will offer views of the Olympic Legacy Park, including a community playing pitch for rugby league side Sheffield Eagles, a community basketball arena which will be home to the Sheffield Sharks, the Oasis Academy, the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre and public cycle ways.

Employers from the computing, healthcare technology, sports science, exercise medicine and wellbeing sectors will be central to the curriculum design and delivery, supporting students on academic and technical learning as well as career-related skills.

The total number of student places is 600 as part of a three-year phased recruitment process from 2016 until 2019.

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