MORE than 170 Humber businesses are being urged to support proposals for a new multi-million pound training centre.
A Humber-wide partnership lodged a bid last year with the Government to create the centre for engineering and renewables training excellence.
Now, bosses behind the region's first University Technical College, the Humber UTC, are asking firms on the north and south banks of the Humber to pledge their support for the scheme.
Mark O'Reilly, director at Team Humber Marine Alliance (THMA), one of the advisory board members is leading the call to back the proposed facility.
He said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for all companies, from the smallest to the largest, to support the Humber UTC, which will bring a genuinely vocational, skills-based and academic training facility focused on engineering and the renewables sector.
"We are asking THMA's own membership of more than 170 companies to support the Humber UTC and would like as many local businesses as possible to support the plans.
"A strong partnership of employers, education and public agencies is driving the bid to develop the Humber UTC.
"All partners have dedicated significant resources and time towards its development and are committed to providing the resource needed for the UTC to be a success."
The Humber UTC advisory board is made up of industrial, business and academic institutions from across the region, including Able UK, Centrica, Total and the University of Hull.
David Shepherd, group executive director at Able UK, developers of the Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP), said: "When AMEP is fully operational, 4,000 people will be involved in the commercialisation of renewables technologies on a global scale.
"To meet this demand for skills, schools need connecting to industry.
"The UTC gives key employers in the Humber the chance to take a direct approach and ensure the region's people and businesses all get what they need – and what local people call 'proper jobs'."
Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson has also thrown his weight behind the plans.
He said: "I have been arguing for a University Technical College in Hull for some time now having been persuaded of the benefits during my time as education secretary.
"No city needs one more than Hull, in my view.
"They are designed to redress the problem in the British education system that has been there since the Second World War.
"We want a well-educated and highly skilled workforce. Having youngsters with these immediate skills to take in to jobs is key.
"We are talking about the next 30, 40,
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50 years and making sure we are training the next generation to take on these jobs.
"I think the business community is behind it and we know from George Osborne's Autumn statement that the Government is supporting it."
The Humber UTC, which will be funded by the Department of Education, will offer 14 to 19-year-olds the chance to undertake specialised technical education alongside academic subjects.
Mr O'Reilly said the centre's focus means no student should leave the UTC without finding work or progressing to further study.
He said: "We have the right organisation in place, and are working on the curriculum ahead of a potential opening in September 2015.
"The UTC's offer will be unique; it will have the look and feel of a place of work and all students will have meaningful contact with employers and the opportunity to work on real work projects.
"Students' progress will be measured against competencies set out by employers, so they understand the direct relevance of their skills and knowledge to the world of work or further study."
Businesses are being asked to write letters of support and send them to Michelle Watson, chairman of the Humber UTC advisory group, at Knowledge Exchange, The Enterprise Centre, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX.
Currently, a site near Scunthorpe has been earmarked for the development, with another UTC due to open in Lincoln next year, specialising in engineering and core science.
