Harlow College

HARLOW could be set to benefit from several million pounds of investment after an official bid to bring a University Technical College (UTC) to the town was submitted to the Government on Wednesday.

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A UTC specialises in offering technical courses to students aged between 14 and 19, with qualifications ranging from apprenticeships to vocational training, in subjects such as plumbing, health science, engineering and construction.

Harlow College has been working closely with Harlow MP Robert Halfon over the past few months to prepare the bid, which has been publicly backed by a number of organisations. These include Harlow and District Chamber of Commerce, Essex FSB (Federation of Small Businesses), the Chartered Institute of Journalists, Pearson UK and the Joint Contracts Tribunal Ltd.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Education Secretary Michael Gove, who is due to visit the college in the autumn, have also backed the bid.

However, Harlow College principal Colin Hindmarch (left) has stressed that there is still a long way to go yet.

“It’s still very early days,” he told the Scene this week. “We’re encouraged by the amount of local interest and positive support for the bid.”

Whilst the UTC will be situated on the college’s Velizy Avenue campus, it is not yet known whether this will be a new build or a refurbishment of one of the existing buildings. These details will be considered at the next stage, if the college’s bid is successful.

Harlow Council has also thrown its support behind the plans. Cllr Andrew Johnson, leader of the council, said: “Harlow’s educational credentials are becoming stronger all the time, with improving results and a new university building taking shape.

“A technical college will make the town even more attractive to employers, as Harlow will be able to offer a pool of students with high quality technical skills absolutely right for the jobs market.

“It will make us a significant location for students not just from Harlow, but Hertfordshire and further afield, and represents a multi-million pound investment in the town. We are fully behind this exciting bid.”

The results of the bid will be known in July, and if the plans are successful the centre could be open by 2013.