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Work starts on £10m Sandwell college

A ground-breaking ceremony marked the start of work on the new £10million University Technical College (UTC) in Sandwell which will soon be home to hundreds of medical students.

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The cutting of the first sod took place at the former Sandwell College site in High Street, West Bromwich.

The Health Futures UTC will serve 600 pupils and have 60 staff. It is due to be complete in September 2015.

An impression of how the build will look once complete.

The college will focus on giving young people skills for careers in healthcare and health science and is sponsored by the University of Wolverhampton, the West Midlands Ambulance Service, the Midcounties Co-operative Pharmacy and several NHS Foundation Trusts in the Black Country and Birmingham.

Present at this week's ceremony were deputy mayor of Sandwell Councillor Shirley Hosell and Principal Designate of the new college Robert Fell.

Mr Fell said: "It is wonderful to mark the formal redevelopment of this site and the foundation of our state of the art Health Futures UTC. I am proud that its long history of education is to be continued through our specialist school and sixth form, which, with our health sector partners and the University of Wolverhampton, is going to provide the highest quality health focussed education and the most incredible opportunities for students from across the West Midlands."

L-R: Deputy Mayor Councillor Shirley Hosell, former caretaker at Sandwell College Joe Davis, Principal Designate Robert Fell and Midlands Regional Director of BAM Construction Rob Stiles.

The new UTC, approved by the government last year, will be built by BAM Construction.

Rob Stiles, Midlands regional director of BAM Construction, said: "Today marks a significant milestone in the development of this new UTC in Sandwell.

"The specialist teaching areas will provide an ideal environment in which medical students can learn the skills they will need to provide excellent care in their future careers."

The new college will feature science laboratories, simulation and skills units, a mock hospital ward, a visualisation centre, IT suites, class and seminar rooms, café and a rooftop games area and gym.

Parents and prospective students will have the chance to find out more about the UTC at an open event being held at West Bromwich Town Hall in High Street between 6pm and 8pm on Monday 6 October 2014.

See also: 200 jobs to be created in £1m Sandwell scheme.

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