Aston University Engineering Academy (AUEA) is Birmingham's University Technical College (UTC) based on the edge of Aston University's city centre campus. AUEA's high tech building, IT, workshops and laboratories ensure we are nationally recognised as a centre of excellence for Science and Engineering Education for 14 - 19 Year olds in Birmingham. Our unique industry based focus allows us to work closely with employers to ensure that we are meeting the skills need of the future. UTCs are now opening across the country with over 100 by 2017. UTCs are rapidly becoming the first point of call for employers looking for young Engineers and Scientists with advanced technical skills. These skills at all levels are desperately needed if the UK is to prosper in the 21st century and compete on an international level in these fields. With 3.5 million Scientists and Engineers needed by 2020, we need to double the number of apprenticeships and graduates. UTCs are meeting this skills gap and we were delighted in 2015 that: 84% of our graduates at 19 years old went on to study Engineering or Science Higher Apprenticeships or undergraduate degrees at leading courses and employers across the UK. This is 18% higher than the national average for all UTCs and 39% higher than the national average for standard schools. University Sponsored Aston University has long been recognised as an international leading centre of Engineering and Science excellence, especially in academic research and employer driven learning. Sponsoringa UTC was a natural progression for Aston and over the last 4 years they have worked closely with staff and students in supporting the future generations of engineers and scientists. The University supports all aspects of AUEA including hosting; our Year 10 induction, master classes, mentoring and work experience.