THE Prime Minister visited Berkeley as part of his tour of the county yesterday. 

PM Rishi Sunak visited students and staff at SGS Berkeley Green UTC along with Siobhan Baillie MP and Lord Baker. 

The school is a specialist STEM site offering traditional academic subjects alongside technical qualifications in engineering, digital technologies and cyber security.

It comes as there has been several updates in the last few weeks for the future of the nuclear sites in Berkeley and in nearby Oldbury.

Mr Sunak said that it was a "pleasure" to visit Berkeley and also said he found the students "inspiring". 

For all photos - see our picture gallery - all photos by Edward Massey 

Gazette Series: The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visiting SGS Berkeley Green UTC with Siobhan Baillie MP The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visiting SGS Berkeley Green UTC with Siobhan Baillie MP (Image: Edward Massey / CCHQ)

“It was a pleasure to be in Berkeley" says PM 

“It was a pleasure to be in Berkeley visiting a cutting edge UTC where the next generation of our engineers are being trained,” Mr Sunak said. 

“From the emerging green skills economy to traditional engineering, the need for STEM subjects is vital. 

“UTC’s are also an important part of the government’s drive for young people to have the best vocational skills possible - something I know Siobhan is very passionate about in her role as a further education ambassador.”

 

Ms Bailie said: “I have talked to the PM a lot about skills and apprenticeship so it was a pleasure to take him to SGS Berkeley Green UTC. 

“He saw for himself how smart and dedicated the students are and what is being achieved alongside businesses. 

“Without the teaching of STEM subjects, particularly mechanical and electrical engineering, our economy both locally and nationally is going to suffer. 

“Some of the work taking place there is award-winning and they are a brilliant part of our Stroud District education family. 

“I wanted to show off the area too after our Western Gateway success with the Severn Edge site purchase by Great British Nuclear. 

“Many thanks to the headteacher Gareth Lister and his staff for inviting the PM and myself. 

“The energy from the students was incredible.”

It was announced Berkeley Science and Technology Park was the centre of a new deal involving Polish industrial group, Industria S.A and Poland's Central Hydrogen Valley.

There will also be £10 million investment in the Berkeley site by Chiltern Vital Group (CVG) working with Rolls Royce SMR and University of Bristol. 

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Oldbury the Chancellor announced as part of his Spring Budget plans to buy land at Oldbury Power Station

It is part of a £160 million deal with Hitachi also involving a site in North Wales.

It is hoped both the sites in Oldbury and Berkeley could be used as locations for small modular reactors (SMRs).