Stroud MP Neil Carmichael is continuing his campaign for a new South Gloucestershire and Stroud College University Technical College (UTC) in Berkeley Green, specialising in Digital Technology and Advanced Manufacturing.

Following a round of meetings with SGS College and partners to develop the detailed UTC proposal, last week Neil went with SGS College Principal Kevin Hamblin to visit the University Technical College in Sheffield to see at first hand the next steps in establishing the College.

Sheffield UTC opened last year, specialising in advanced engineering, engineering and digital media.

The proposal for the new UTC, with a planned start date of September 2016, would form part of the wider Berkeley GREEN Centre – an initiative Neil Carmichael championed in 2010 for developing the skills required within the manufacturing and engineering sector.

Mr Carmichael said “The Manufacturing and engineering sector is of priority importance to Stroud and Gloucestershire and there is now huge potential at Berkeley to act as a skills hub.

“This proposed UTC is in parallel with my own vision for aspiring engineers and the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering.”