Bradford College Cements Ambitious Plans for Transformational Campus Buildings

BRADFORD, U.K. - Feb. 29, 2024 - PRLog -- Over the last two years, Bradford College has successfully secured nearly £29 million in funding. The considerable investment will enhance, refurbish, and build new aspirational facilities in the heart of Bradford.

The projects form part of Bradford College's ambitious estates strategy. The capital masterplan centres around building facilities that open up pioneering student careers which support regional economic growth.

T Level Facilities

A £3.5m Department for Education (T Level Capital Fund  - Wave 5) investment will create a commercial barbering salon, nail bar, collaborative lecture spaces, TV studio, enhanced media editing and recording studios, outdoor dining facilities, and remodel of The Grove training restaurant. T Level qualifications are an alternative to A Levels and focus on the hands-on skills that employers need.

Garden Mills

The Garden Mills refurbishment is the result of £5.8 m funding received from The Office for Students (OfS) Higher Education Capital Fund (with a £1.1m College contribution). Garden Mills will enhance the College's existing health science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) facilities. Higher-level HNC/HND and degree students will use this state-of-the-art building from the new academic year.

Future Technologies Centre (FTC)

Construction of the purpose-built FTC building will begin in the Spring following the demolition of Junction Mills and surveys by contractor, Morgan Sindall. The project was made possible thanks to £15m funding from the Department for Education's Further Education Capital Transformation Fund (FECTF), secured in October 2022, boosted by a £2m College contribution.

The FTC will be the new home of modern automotive and digital engineering curricula, such as electric/hybrid vehicles, robotics, advanced manufacturing, and digital/3D design. The Centre will be vital in supporting the growth of technology and low-carbon skills capability within West Yorkshire. The College's Automotive and Digital Engineering Department will relocate from Bowling Back Lane to the brand-new premises once completed during the 2025/2026 academic year.

Christopher Malish, Bradford College Vice Principal Finance & Corporate Services, said:

"We're thrilled to see work scaling up across our project sites after years of logistics and planning. We have an exciting year ahead as we develop sector leading facilities. This is a huge boost for the College but is also a transformative investment in Bradford city centre, that also supports the wider city centre development."

This week is the seventh annual Colleges Week (https://www.aoc.co.uk/news-campaigns-parliament/aoc-campa...) celebration (26 February – 1 March), which incorporates the year-round #LoveOurColleges campaign by the Association of Colleges. Both highlight phenomenal achievements in the further education sector, with the focus in 2024 'influencing, engaging, and celebrating successes.'