Bournville College celebrated the launch of its landmark £66million build on 3rd December, with VIPs from across the country descending on Birmingham for an event at the International Convention Centre.
The event allowed attendees to have a sneak preview into the plans of the new college campus and how it aims to act as a catalyst for the £1billion regeneration of Longbridge.
Bournville College is said to become the “Learning Quarter” of the mixed-use regeneration programme located on the ex-MG Rover site. The new campus will span 4.2 acres, offering a new learning resource centre, business school, construction workshop and leisure and sport facilities to 15,000 students.
With support from Advantage West Midlands, the Learning and Skills Council and Birmingham City Council, the new campus is to open its doors in September 2011, bringing together Bournville’s current 3 campuses under one roof. The new build is one of just 13 colleges across the UK that were chosen to receive funding following a robust and thorough assessment in the review of the FE Capital building programme by the LSC and Sir Andrew Foster.
The event included a short film ‘Investing in Our Future’ shown to a specially invited audience of business, political, education and community leaders from Birmingham and the UK, giving them a passport into the future of the region.
Event attendees were also witness to an audience with one of the UK’s leading businesswomen, Karren Brady who spoke about her experiences of working in a “mans world” and how she became Managing Director of Birmingham City Football club at the tender age of 23.
Karren said: “I am delighted to have taken part in this momentous occasion in Bournville College’s history.
“The new build will play a vital role in the £1billion regeneration project at Longbridge, providing a strong educational element to the employment led mixed-use development.
“In these trying and difficult times, it is vital that we invest in the future of our community, in the hope that they will continue to take this country from strength to strength.
“Last Thursday’s event is a perfect example of how business, investors and members of the community can combine resources and work together to make a brighter future for all.”
Norman Cave, Principal at Bournville College said: “The mission of the college has always been to raise the level of skills and knowledge of people and organisations in the area. With this fantastic new build we will continue to offer our students the highest level of teaching available, giving them a head start in these trying economic times.”
“It has taken us five years to get to this point and without the help of all the partners and businesses who have invested both time and money into the project, we would not have made it this far. The VIP evening allowed us to say thank you to all those involved.”
“It will also gave us an opportunity to showcase plans for the new build, proving to the people of Birmingham that the new College will not only benefit students but also the entire community of the south west of the city and beyond.”
