Following Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves MP‘s Spring Statement, Chief Executive of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust Kate Ambrosi has issued the following response:

“We are pleased that the government will be investing in advanced manufacturing jobs.

“The 44 University Technical Colleges that we support are preparing young people with the technical and employability skills to progress into apprenticeships and roles in growth driving sectors such as advanced manufacturing.

“That includes UTC Derby Pride Park, Doncaster UTC and UTC Portsmouth, which are working with major employers such as Rolls-Royce, VolkerRail, and the Royal Navy to meet the UK’s economic and defence goals.

“Baker Dearing is also working with employers and schools to create a new technical education pathway for secondary students in Barrow.

“This pathway, based on our UTC Sleeve initiative and the high-quality employer led provision of University Technical Colleges, is vital to developing pipelines of talent which will allow young people to progress into high-paying, growth-driving employment.

“Our UTCs in Portsmouth and Doncaster are also working on sister schools in Southampton and Doncaster. These two new UTCs will tackle local skills shortages and meet the huge demand by parents for more UTC places.

“We would urge HM Treasury and the Department for Education to back the new UTCs in Southampton and Doncaster, as well as a UTC Sleeve for Barrow.”