THE British Chambers of Commerce recently asked 3,000 members to assess the quality of applications they receive from young people.

Almost nine in ten employers said school leavers were not prepared for the world of work and a staggering 54 per cent felt the same about university graduates.

Yet one in six young adults are unemployed.

The employers’ explanations were depressingly familiar: a lack of student experience of the world of work, poor communication skills and inadequate careers advice.

More than half felt schools concentrated too much on getting young people through exams instead of equipping them with the skills they need to succeed at work. Recent research by Nestlé found four in five young people would consider careers in science and engineering. Yet half of them (and, worryingly, half their teachers) had no idea what jobs were out there.

University Technical Colleges (UTCs) tackle this problem head on. Fifty-seven UTCs are either open or in preparation, each developed by local employers and education partners to give young people a new deal. UTCs are state schools, free to attend and open to all young people aged between 14 and 18 years.

South Wiltshire’s UTC was born out of frustration. World-class local employers get too few good local applicants for well-paid and high quality jobs in science, engineering and technology. A partnership including the University of Southampton, the Army, Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire College, Dstl, QinetiQ, Public Health England, Chemring, the Royal Navy, Salisbury NHS Hospital, Serco and Tetricus Science Park, has developed a curriculum that combines good academic qualifications with valuable technical and business skills.

The first 240 students will start at the UTC in Wilton Road, Salisbury this September, rising to 600 in two years. They will work an 8.45am to 5pm business day, allowing them to combine GCSEs and A levels/BTECs with character-building projects and activities.

They will study science, engineering, computing, mathematics and English, supported by options such as languages, economics, psychology and geography. Employers and the university will provide guest lecturers, specialist equipment, case studies and project challenges to deliver learning in a practical, applied way.

Demand has been astonishing. More than 100 applications to join the UTC’s Year 10 (starting GCSEs) have been received with eight months still to go before opening (there are 104 places available). Sixth form applications are also coming in rapidly, with an initial deadline of January 31 for the 136 places. A sixth form information evening will be held in the Guildhall at 6pm on January 21.

Potential students and/or their parents should visit wiltshire-utc.co.uk or call 01722 344238 to arrange to meet the principal, Gordon Aitken.