New education opportunity for girls in Sheffield City Region

21st November 2012

Girls who want to know more about engineering, technology and creative industries careers are invited to a taster event this month.

The free information session takes place on Tuesday November 20th at the Creative Lounge, the Workstation, Paternoster Row, Sheffield, from 6pm to 8pm. To book a place, go to www.utcsheffield.org.uk/events. It will highlight the opportunities to study, train and gain employment in those sectors, which the new University Technical College Sheffield will specialise in when it opens next year. Girls from across Sheffield City Region including Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Chesterfield, Bolsover and Bassetlaw and their parents will have the chance to meet the new UTC Sheffield Principal and employers involved, and gain an overview of the UTC Sheffield, updates on the latest developments and have the opportunity to ask questions. The UTC Sheffield is a new type of college for 14 to 19-year-olds, and the first of its kind in Yorkshire, opening on Shoreham Street, Sheffield city centre, in September 2013. The curriculum will have input from employers and provide academic and vocational qualifications for two specific sectors: advanced engineering and manufacturing, and creative media industries. GCSEs and A-levels will be offered alongside specialist vocational diploma courses. Young people will develop the academic and technical skills to secure jobs in the advanced engineering and manufacturing, and creative media industries sectors. Nick Crew, UTC Sheffield Principal, said: "Girls are especially welcome to this event as well as boys, parents and teachers. Women have traditionally been under represented in engineering and technology. We want a balance of boys and girls studying at the UTC Sheffield, which offers a brand new and exciting choice for young people in Sheffield City Region." The taster event is being run in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University's WiSET (Women in Science, Engineering and Technology) team. A further taster event is also scheduled for Tuesday December 4th from 6pm to 8pm at the Workstation, Paternoster Row, Sheffield. The £9.9 million UTC Sheffield will be fitted with £1 million of specialist equipment including engineering mini factories, high tech design and sound studios, and a multi-use rooftop five-a-side football pitch. Applications for the UTC Sheffield are now being accepted. Download the new prospectus at www.utcsheffield.org.uk. You can also follow us on Facebook.com/utcsheffield and Twitter @utcsheffield. Pictured:  an architects' image of the new University Technical College Sheffield for young people across Sheffield City Region, which opens in September 2013. Image credit: HLM Architects.