A new specialist college for up to 800 students could be opened in Kingston by 2017, according to the group behind the project.

A bid is being put together to create Kingston University Technical College – a school teaching practical and vocational courses for students aged 14 to 19.

If successful, the UTC could be operating by September 2017, although a site for the college is yet to be found.

Project manager Maundy Todd said: “We have a huge demand for more school places in Kingston and it has been documented over the years that employers cannot find people with the skills they need.

“I got very excited about bringing this kind of educational establishment to Kingston. This kind of institute has to be driven by employer needs.

“The whole thing is about building partnerships.”

Introduced under the previous coalition Government, UTCs work on the same premise as free schools, in that bids are submitted by groups and organisations.

They offer full-time technical courses for students looking to enter a specific trade or industry.

They work with local businesses and specialise in a specific subject, usually one where there are a lack of skills in the area.

The Kingston UTC bid is being backed by organisations including LGC Group, Berkeley Group, Kingston Hospital, Barclays Bank and small businesses led by New England Seafood, Genuine Solutions Group and Signature.

A spokeswoman for Kingston Hospital said it was hoped the college would specialise in health.

She said: “Having a college that specialises in health and social sciences would not only be beneficial for recruiting staff for the hospital but also for other local organisations.”

In February former Richmond Park and North Kingston MP Zac Goldsmith also brought the idea before the House of Commons with Lord Baker, the man behind the Baker Deering Trust which sponsors the UTC programme.

Ed Davey, Kingston and Surbiton’s Liberal Democrat candidate said: “I am behind anything that will bring more skills to the area, however, the financials of the project like this have to be properly worked out.”

Mr Davey also questioned where such a large site would be located in the borough.

He said: “This would be a big college and it is extremely important that the local people will have to be consulted properly.”

But Mrs Todd said: “The UTC programme is very well established and if they don’t think we can do it they will not give us permission.”

The bid will be submitted in October to the Baker Deering Trust.