Ambrosi joins at a time of acute skills shortages, which she believes UTCs can address by expanding their provision into mainstream schools. With skills minister Jacqui SmithA turning tideSince their inception, UTCs have had to battle the long-entrenched British inferiority complex that clouds technical education. To combat this, Ambrosi says UTCs “make it clear” to parents they don’t restrict options, but offer “multiple routes” – including A-levels. While FE colleges have opposed the establishment of UTCs in some areas, local schools have been reluctant to promote UTCs in case their brightest pupils enrol. Since then, local skills improvement plans have helped UTCs match their sleeve proposals to the needs of their local economies.