BURNLEY MP Gordon Birtwistle is hoping the town will be successful in securing a new type of college.
The Government has revived the idea of University Technical Colleges (UTC), which will be open to 14 to 19 year olds and would specialise in technical studies sponsored by a university.
Mr Birtwistle said a bid had been submitted to Pennine Lancashire to bring a UTC to the region, and if successful it would likely be in Burnley.
He said: “It would be fantastic for Burnley if we could get a college, as a manufacturing town the benefits it offers are massive.
“Aerospace and engineering companies in the town are supportive of it and they would be able to see those students first hand and offer them apprenticeships or jobs.”
Mr Birtwistle said that he recently had a meeting with former Tory schools secretary Lord Baker, one of those managing the scheme for the government.
He said: “Lord Baker said our bid was in the top five in the country. He sounded very positive about it.”
“It is expected that around 20 or 25 of these colleges will be granted in the first batch.”
A final decision on the project will be made at the end of July.
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