Train to gain

e shape in nearby Chatham last summer, I thought to myself ‘ I must visit once it’s up and running’. True to my word, I jumped in the car and made the short journey last week.

UTCs essentially are government funded schools promoted by the Baker Dearing Educational Trust. Their aim is to offer 14-19 year olds an alternative to more traditional schools by teaching technical and scientific subjects and thus ‘educating the inventors, engineers, scientists and technicians of tomorrow’.

It’s kind of extended learning environment. Students study ‘conventional’ core subjects as well as one or two technical specialisms. In Medway UTC’s case these comprise engineering, construction and design. Importantly the UTC works with partners – often local employers and a university to develop the curriculum to support local and regional needs. Two partners that are large employers in the area are BAE Systems and Delphi. The intention is that the UTC can provide an employment pipeline to these companies and other partners.

Working on real-time projects, the UTC environment equips students with the specialist skills, practical knowledge and academic know-how to fully realise their potential in the modern world of work. Students also work alongside the University of Greenwich.

I have to admit I was a little nervous when I arrived and that’s because I’m old enough to remember when the Medway Towns was a thriving engineering hotbed. The biggest local employer up until 1984 was Chatham Dockyard which had employed generations of local, highly skilled people for hundreds of years. There were many others: BP Oil Refinery at the Isle of Grain; Wingets, Twin Disc, Lucas CAV, Metal Box, Kent Alloy Wheels to name but a few. Engineering was pivotal to region’s prosperity.

But of course now things have changed. Successive Governments from the mid-1980s decided against supporting UK manufacturing preferring a more service-led economy, and the whole industry suffered as a result – something we’re still paying dearly for now. But whilst manufacturing in Medway is a mere shadow of its former self, the establishment of the UTC is a step in the right direction.

Because local businesses are integral to its running, they can ‘tailor’ the students’ skills to exactly what it required; local skills to meet local needs. It’s early days yet – the UTC only officially opened its doors last September – but I wish it all the best for the future. I was impressed by the enthusiasm and professionalism of the staff and students alike. A similar UTC also exists at Leigh in Dartford and I understand there are around 30 spread around the country.

Read all about the Medway UTC in the February issue on pages 14-15.