Nantwich and Crewe youngsters will benefit from a new University Technical College in South Cheshire.
The Government has announced the move and believes the college, will boost the region’s engineering skills.
It will cater for 14-19-year-olds who want to pursue careers in engineering and high skill manufacturing.
Students will work with major local employers to develop gold-standard vocational qualifications alongside more traditional ones.
UTC Crewe is due to open in September 2016.
The announcement comes as representatives from five Northern cities met Chancellor George Osborne to unveil a £15billion plan to improve road and rail connections.
The joint “One North” report includes plans for a new 125mph inter-city rail link, faster links and better access to ports and airports.
Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson said: “I have really pushed for this college in government because I have seen with my own eyes what the young people of Crewe and Nantwich are capable of when given the opportunity of first-class technical training.
“I want them set up for life with skills that will keep them employed and spur them on to higher education if they want it.
“This college will be producing the engineers of the future under the guidance of some stellar companies. I am so pleased we pulled it off.”
Cllr Jones hailed the Government’s decision on the UTC.
He said: “Britain’s once world-beating manufacturing sector has suffered over the decades, leading to lost opportunities to train our youngsters up to become leading engineers of the future.
“Cheshire East Council has held this vision for some time and we are delighted the Government has now thrown its full weight behind this idea.
“We also fully support securing more apprentices and our own award-winning apprentice scheme, The A-Team, which offers fantastic training for our youngsters in Cheshire East.”
The UTC scheme is a partnership between Cheshire East Council, Bentley Motors, Manchester Metropolitan University, Siemens, Bosch, OSL Rail, Jacobs Engineering, Chevron Racing, Optical 3D and South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce.
The aim is to fill the gap local businesses have of young people with automotive, engineering, rail and design skills in these growing industries.
Bentley’s Dr Ariane Reinhart said: “UTC Crewe is fantastic news.
“It will enhance the local community, boosting skills, education and employability, for the benefit of individuals and many organisations.”
Mathew Conway, engineering director of Crewe-based OSL, a rail infrastructure company, said: “It is a fantastic schooling strategy, which I term school-plus.
“It will allow young professionals of the future, working with real business and educational partners, several educational pathways to gain both academic theory and real-world, practical, work-based experience.”
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