New South Yorkshire Mayor hears the views of university technical college students

20th May 2022

South Yorkshire’s newly elected Mayor has met students at one of Sheffield’s university technical colleges to hear about the issues that matter to them.

Oliver Coppard visited UTC Sheffield City Centre, on Matilda Street, to find out more about young people’s views following his election as South Yorkshire Mayor this month.

Mayor Coppard discussed topics including the economy, food banks, homelessness, mental health services, new technologies, transport and South Yorkshire’s identity during the May 12th visit.

The UTC recruits young people, aged 13 to 19, from across South Yorkshire and specialises in engineering and advanced manufacturing and creative and digital media.

Alex Reynolds, Principal, UTC Sheffield City Centre, said: “We were pleased to welcome Mayor Coppard. It is important for our students to take part in the democratic process and understand how decisions made regionally will impact on them.”

Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire Mayor, added: “It was great to meet such a brilliant group of young people at the UTC, who told me about their hopes for better public transport, mental health support and helping people going through homelessness.

“As South Yorkshire’s Mayor I have promised to encourage young people to engage with the processes and decisions that will shape their future, and that has to start by hearing their views and understanding what is most important to them.”

Students at the UTC complete technical qualifications in either engineering and advanced manufacturing or in creative and digital media, alongside GCSEs and A Levels.

The UTC, which is Ofsted graded ‘good’, is backed by top employers who have shaped the curriculum and provide industry projects, work experience and work placements. It is one of two UTCs in the city.

Employers supporting the UTC include AES Seal, Bauer Media Group, Fernite, Festo, Finger Industries, Hive, Inspec Solutions, Lavender International, PES Performance, Rolls-Royce, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Live, the University of Sheffield, Siemens and Sumo Digital.

UTC Sheffield City Centre is part of The Sheffield UTC Academy Trust, which also includes UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and UTC Derby Pride Park based in the East Midlands.

The UTC is sponsored by Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and The Sheffield College and has capacity for 600 students.

To apply now for September 2022, visit www.utcsheffield.org.uk/city. Follow @UTCSheffieldCity.