SWINDON has negotiated the next hurdle in its bid to establish a new University Technical College (UTC) in the town.

After submitting the bid to the Government in January, the team has been invited to be interviewed on the project by officials in London.

Out of the 25 to 30 applications from across the country, only a handful were interviewed. The Government ultimately intends to give the green light to six or nine.

Coun David Renard, Swindon Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said the interview went well and he is hopeful of success when the results are announced in May.

He said: “We went up for the interview about a week ago and it was extremely well-received.

“It was an in-depth discussion of our proposals. We believe we fielded all the questions extremely well and to their satisfaction so we’re waiting now for the final decision.”

A UTC is a new concept, with the first – called the JCB Academy – being set up in Staffordshire.

Swindon Council has allocated up to £500,000 towards the possible conversion of a former railway works building in the Railway Village, which has been identified as the “preferred site” for the UTC.

Swindon’s UTC would offer diplomas, GCSEs and A-levels in subjects geared towards engineering.

Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells, an international hi-tech firm that has its headquarters at Lydiard Fields, is the main business sponsor and Oxford Brookes University is the university sponsor.

The team that went to the interview included representatives from these two organisations, as well as project manager Chris Walton, who is employed by Swindon Council.

Coun Renard said: “They discussed the proposed curriculum and timetable and how it would run on a day-to-day operational basis.”

He said if Swindon is successful, the Government will help to finally decide the UTC’s location and will provide between £7m and £10m for the building’s conversion.