UNIVERSITY bosses put their names to Bolton's newest school at a special ceremony to mark a milestone in the development of the multi-million pound campus.

A symbolic steel signing ceremony took place on the site of the new University Technical College (UTC) being built for young people aged 14-19-years-old.

Representatives of those involved in the the £10 million campus gave it their seal of approval by signing a structural steel beam before it was lifted into place by a crane to become a permanent part of the structure of the building.

Dr Zubair Hanslot, Provost of the University of Bolton and Project Director for UTC Bolton, said: "Today represents a symbolic milestone in the development of the UTC literally embedding the commitment of the university and its employer partners at the heart of the building.”

UTC Bolton will offer pupils science based GCSEs and A-levels and specialise in health sciences and engineering technologies — bridging the gap between vocational and high quality academic qualifications.

Leading companies — which will play a key part in UTC Bolton — were also represented at the ceremony.

Chairman of Governors, Michael Dwan, Managing Partner of Equity Solutions, added: "Employers are crucial to the success of the UTC. They are contributing to course design, providing real world projects for students to work on and designing specialist laboratories.

"Once open employers will also provide mentoring, work placement and employment opportunities.”

The state-of-the art campus is being developed on the site of the five storey former lingerie factory in Deane Road.

Vice Chancellor Professor George Holmes said: “Health sciences and engineering technologies are a strength of the University of Bolton and we are delighted to be able to use our staff, experience and facilities to create a unique educational opportunity for young people in Bolton combining GCSEs or A-levels with practical projects provided by employers.”

UTC Bolton will teach 600 young people and will open its doors in September 2015.

As well as putting his name to the development, Dr Hanslot added the quote "Knowledge is power".