BUDDING scientists and engineers can now apply for a place at Salisbury’s new University Technical College, which opens next year.

The UTC, at the former police station in Wilton Road, is recruiting students from Wiltshire, Hampshire, Southampton and north Dorset, and Year 10 applications are being co-ordinated by Wiltshire Council regardless of where students live.

There are places for 104 Year 10s and 136 Year 12s in September 2015 and the UTC will specialise in science, engineering and computing.

It is driven by the University of Southampton and major local employers, including Public Health England, 43 (Wessex) Brigade, Stannah Stairlifts, Serco, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Chemring, Dstl, Wallop Defence Systems and Tetricus Science Park.

Principal designate Gordon Aitken said: “The initial deadlines are the end of October for Year 10 applications and the end of January for entry to our sixth form.

“Students will still be able to apply after that time but there has been huge interest in the UTC and we can’t guarantee that there will still be places available after the deadlines.

“The 60 places on our recent summer schools were snapped up in four days.”

The UTC is organising a series of free careers evenings in September and October where young people and their parents can learn more about the UTC and talk to many top employers about career options.

There are events in Salisbury Guildhall on September 18 and October 23, Warminster Civic Centre on October 7 and Andover Guildhall on October 15.

For more details about the application process and the careers events, visit wiltshire-utc.co.uk.