This new report by Policy Exchange makes the case that University Technical Colleges (UTCs) can play a vital role in addressing the UK’s profound skills crisis. 27% of all job vacancies are now liked to skills shortages, with skills gaps set to cost up to £120 billion annually by the end of the decade. The report argues that UTCs have made significant progress in the last 6 years. It calls for the Government to fund new ‘UTC Sleeves’ in mainstream schools to give more students the choice to access technical education that leads directly to good employment.

The report reveals:

• UTCs are in a stronger and more stable position than when they were last evaluated in 2019. Student numbers have more than doubled since 2018 to over 21,000, with 82% of UTCs rated Good or Outstanding in 2024.
• At 18 students from UTCs are more than two and a half times more likely to enter apprenticeships than the average nationally. Despite making up just 1.2% of schools, students at UTCs comprise 2.9% of entries into rigorous technical T Level qualifications.

• UTCs play an important role in re-engaging young people in education. UTCs have higher proportions of students eligible for Free School Meals and with SEND needs, but have fewer students Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).

Policy Exchange commissioned exclusive new research by Professor Stephen Burgess of Homerton College, Cambridge and Will Bickford Smith, Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State for Education 2021-2024. This analysis used statistical matching to compare UTCs with similar schools in the same local areas. Their research, explored in this report, found students leaving UTCs are more likely to go into apprenticeships or work, and are less likely to be NEET than students from comparable schools.

The report has cross-party support from two former Education Secretaries. In a joint foreword Lord (David) Blunkett and Gillian Keegan – and Liberal Democrat House of Lords Education Spokesman Lord Storey say:

“The three of us come from different political traditions, yet we are united in our belief that skills matter, and that better technical education is fundamental to Britain’s future success. This excellent new report from Policy Exchange demonstrates that University Technical Colleges (UTCs) are making a critical contribution to repairing that skills pipeline – and have the potential to do even more.”

The launch of this report was covered by:

• The Express
• POLITICO’s London Playbook
• LBC