THE Duke of York will visit UTC Swindon on Monday, February 10.

HRH will meet the UTC Swindon board of directors at 10.45am before the group is joined by head teachers from secondary schools across Swindon at 11am. Sponsors and partners of the College, including UTC Swindon directors from Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells and Oxford Brookes University, will also be attending.

After meeting key stakeholders, The Duke will be shown around the college site at 12 noon by UTC Swindon Principal, Angela Barker-Dench. During the tour he will meet a small number of students and there will also be photo opportunities for the media.

Looking ahead to The Duke’s visit, Angela Barker-Dench said: “This is another historic moment for UTC Swindon. This college is going to be iconic in the world of engineering, equipping young people with the skills to pursue careers in engineering in all its diverse forms. HRH has a passion for engineering, manufacturing and apprenticeships. His core values and beliefs regarding skills in the workplace coincide directly with what UTC Swindon will be doing.”

As Patron of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, HRH encourages wider support from parents, businesses and other stakeholders. He supports enterprise-focused education and helps providers promote the opportunities they offer.

The Duke’s visit comes two weeks after the Founder of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust and former Home Secretary, The Right Honourable, the Lord Baker of Dorking CH, was shown around the UTC Swindon site.

UTC Swindon will occupy a new, £10 million state-of-the-art facility, with the Old School Building and the iconic Water Tower featuring prominently. Both structures, which are Grade II listed, are being treated sympathetically, with the Water Tower being restored and brought back into educational use.

Students can apply for a place at UTC Swindon, which will cater for 600 students aged 14 to 19, by emailing info@utcswindon.co.uk or by downloading the application form from www.utcswindon.co.uk. For more information call UTC Swindon on 07990 601 516.