Royston Smith MP has been successful in his campaign to get a new University Technical College (UTC) to open in Southampton.

The success of the bid was announced this morning.

The UTC is one of 15 new free schools to open in parts of the country where education outcomes are weakest.

The bid has been Mr Smith's 'labour of love' since visiting the UTC in Portsmouth. 

READ MORE: Southampton Itchen MP campaigns for new college in the city

He said: "I have long campaigned for opportunities for my young constituents in Southampton.

"What better start in life can we give them than a good education, preparing them for a worthwhile career with job security and the opportunity to progress in work and in life?"

UTC Portsmouth offers students courses relating to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

UTC in Southampton will aim to close chronic skills gaps in the area as the UTC state that there is currently a lack of young people with the appropriate skills to go into STEM careers and university degree courses.

Mr Smith added: "The UTC in Portsmouth is a remarkable education facility and from the moment I first visited and talked to the students I knew Southampton would benefit from their own UTC.

"It has been a long journey, but I am enormously grateful to the Secretary of State, Gillian Keegan, for putting up with my incessant lobbying and to the team from Portsmouth for putting such a compelling case to Government. 

"Southampton's UTC could be a game changer in equipping our young people with the skills they need to succeed and as a pipeline for employers who have for too long struggled to get young people with the correct skill set to drive their businesses forward. This is a very good day for Southampton."

Mr Smith will step down from his position at the next General Election.

The UTC bid has been a proud part of his last years as MP for Southampton Itchen.