A NEW £50million technical university will be built in Basildon with bosses hoping it can open to students in just two years.

Council bosses have confirmed a new university campus will be built in Basildon, but an exact location cannot be revealed at this stage.

The technical university will offer a series of graduate apprenticeships, with students getting hands on experience at the likes of Ford and the New Holland tractor factory in the town.

A host of details are set to be ironed out in coming weeks, with it hoped the university would welcome students in September 2023.

 

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Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council said: “We’ve found a site but we cannot say where yet but it’s a major employer and why we went to America in the pandemic.

“Students will be going to work at sites of big businesses in the town so it will be a smaller campus in Basildon.

“This will be for some exams and classroom teaching.

“We will be welcoming graduate appreciates from September 2023.

“It’s all about reconnecting youngsters from school into our borough businesses.

“We cannot keep congratulating ourselves when our economy is fifth in the UK for being unequal and seven in the UK for adults with no qualifications.

“We’ve got to get our residents and workers into Basildon businesses and make sure our economy is working for Basildon people.”

The council has been working alongside the Association of South Essex Local Authorities, with plans backed by Ford, NatWest Bank and aerospace engineering firm Leonardo’s.

Graham Hoare OBE, executive director of business transformation and chairman of Ford of Britain, added: “We are happy to help and support Basildon and ASELA in framing a proposal which could help Ford meet their future higher level technical training requirements in the Essex area.”

A student union and accommodation have been touted as part of the plans.

Documents from the Association of South Essex local Authorities said: “It will provide undergraduate and post-graduate teaching, along with research tailored to local and national issues.”