Jobs promise at Black Country university technical college

Forty new jobs will be created when the UK's first university technical college opens in the Black Country, it was revealed today.

The teaching and support staff positions will be available at the multi-million pound engineering college, which will replace doomed Sneyd Community School in Bloxwich from next September.

Recruitment is likely to begin in the new year and education bosses also hinted today that more job opportunities could follow in the future.

Staff currently working at Sneyd, in Vernon Way, will not automatically be transferred to the UTC but have been invited to apply for the new jobs.

Up to 40 teachers have already lost their jobs at the school, with at least 10 compulsory redundancies.

Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said today: "The project is fantastic news. If we are creating jobs I'm all in support of that.

"It is going really well but we are in the early stages, there's still a long way to go."

The UTC, which will include the remodelling of the existing building in a project that could cost up to £8m, will cater for 480 students from across the Black Country, aged between 14 and 19.

Walsall College will be one of the new centre's main sponsors, along with the University of Wolverhampton.

College spokeswoman Rebecca Molloy said: "There will initially be approximately 40 new jobs created to support the innovative curriculum and operation of the UTC. We will be able to share site remodelling options in the new year once funding has been secured."

The UTC will specialise in engineering and manufacturing and will be the first of its kind in the country.

Black Country or South Staffordshire students wishing to join in September in Year 10 can apply through their local authority. Sixth- formers need to apply via Walsall College.

There were fears the college would be scrapped as part of the national spending cuts. But ministers have approved the initial plans and released further funding to education chiefs to complete the final details.

The closure of Sneyd, due to falling pupils and educational standards, was brought forward a year to accommodate the plans.

By Lisa O'Brien