A TECHNOLOGY college is merging with South Essex College moving the dream of a technical university for Basildon a step closer.

Prospects College of Advanced Technology (Procat), with bases in Basildon and Canvey will combine with the South Essex College of Further and Higher Education, which has campuses in Basildon and Southend.

The Procat brand will be retained with further investment towards developing its Basildon headquarters, as the combined group seeks to establish itself as a leading specialist technical, engineering and construction training provider.

Procat Chairman David Sherlock said: “This exciting merger is the next step in our progress since changing from a private training provider to a further education college provider in 2014.

“Our dream has been to create a technical university for Basildon. “To do that we need larger scale as well as excellence. “We are confident this merger

will provide that, establishing a powerhouse of technical creativity for the thriving Thames Gateway.”

The merger process in itself still has a number of stages to complete, before seeking the approval of the Secretary of State for Education later this year.

The merger will formally start next year, if things go to plan.

Principal and chief executive Angela O’Donoghue said: “Our decision to merge with Procat has been underpinned by our shared commitment in providing technical training opportunities up to degree level in Basildon to meet the skills needs in the Thames Estuary and beyond.

“These are truly exciting times for all within this region and beyond and we look forward to working with Procat, to achieve our joint vision.”

In April it was announced Procat was looking to expand its Basildon campus with new buildings and student accommodation blocks on a proposed new retail area which could include a supermarket.