Minister for Skills visits Mulberry UTC to spotlight girls’ participation in technical education
On Thursday 20 November 2025, Mulberry UTC welcomed The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State (Minister for Skills) and Minister for Women and Equalities in the Department for Education, for a visit celebrating the UTC’s role as a national model of high-quality technical education. The visit highlighted Mulberry UTC’s success in widening access for girls into health, digital media, the creative industries and STEM.
Hosted by Dr Vanessa Ogden CBE, CEO of the Mulberry Schools Trust, and Principal Daniel Seed, the Minister toured the professional-standard theatre, TV studio, hospital-grade Health Suite and the recently constructed engineering lab made possible through the partnership between the Trust and Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. The Minister met students, staff, alumni and industry partners including Barts Health NHS Trust, the National Theatre and Creative Media Skills Institute based at Pinewood Studios. Uma Kumaran, MP for Stratford and Bow, also attended the visit.
A roundtable discussion with female students from Mulberry UTC and London Design and Engineering UTC explored the importance of technical skills and career pathways for young women across the UK.
The visit received positive coverage on local news websites, including the Evening Standard.
For more information about the visit, download the Baker Dearing Educational Trust press release below.
