College for 600 Black Country students to open in September

The new Health Futures University Technical College (UTC) is set to create dozens of jobs as one of 13 new University Technical Colleges which are set to open across the country.

A new principal, Robert Fell, has also been appointed to run the college.

He is currently the principal of the Landau Forte Academy QEMS in Tamworth.

During the last three years he has taken the school out of Special Measures and transformed it to a 'Good' status in all OFSTED categories.

A graduate of mathematics at the University of Warwick in 1992, Mr Fell completed a PGCE before starting his teaching career in 1993 as a secondary teacher of mathematics in Acton, London.

He has subsequently held successful teaching posts in a range of schools in the West Midlands as he progressed into senior leadership roles.

The college will be sponsored by both the University of Wolverhampton and West Midlands Ambulance Service.

It will be a centre of excellence for those looking for careers in healthcare.

The exact location of the college is not yet known, but bosses have said it would be in central West Bromwich.

The projects have all been approved to move to pre-opening stage and are spread across England.

Each will specialise in technical subjects, including engineering, digital technologies and biomedical science and in total will cater for 8,000 students aged 14 to 19.

The Health Futures UTC aims to address the shortage issues that are experienced by employers for technician and graduate entrants to careers in health and health sciences.

Professor Linda Lang, Dean of the university's school of health and wellbeing, said: "The aim of the UTC is to help tackle the shortage of young people with the skills, professionalism and aspiration to meet the needs of employers for technician and graduate entrants to careers in health and health sciences and to nurture them to develop the right value and attitudes.

"In a week in which we have heard the Government's response to the Francis Report, I think this provides a fantastic opportunity to start preparing young people from an early age, not only in the academic and technical facets of healthcare, but also by embedding the key attributes of compassion and care."

Professor Geoff Layer, vice chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, said: "We believe that a close relationship between the University of Wolverhampton and the UTC will raise aspirations of students to progress to higher education and also on to employment.

"It will encourage development of the UTC as an outstanding centre of excellence for health and sciences education."

Students will be able to study for a variety of healthcare careers such as nursing, paramedic services, radiography, pathology, physiotherapy and pharmacy.

Dr Anthony Marsh, chief executive officer at West Midlands Ambulance Service, added: "The UTC will create the next generation of healthcare practitioners, leaders and career scientists and we are delighted to support it."