By ANISAH ARIF
A higher learning facility, located in Dewsbury as part of an overall £80 million package of investment in new college facilities across the region, is now opened to the public.
The Kirklees Springfield College Centre is the latest addition to new world-class college facilities, where locals celebrated to mark the opening of the new purpose built college. The BREEAM Excellent standard further education facility will offer high quality vocational programmes for students as part of the Dewsbury Learning Quarter Project.
The Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) invested £11.1 million into the Leeds City Region as part of a Growth Deal.
The funding is part of an overall £80 million allocation for new college facilities through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1 billion package of Government investment delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.
Other projects which have benefitted from LEP and Combined Authority support include Kirklees College’s Process Manufacturing Centre in Huddersfield, a new apprenticeships training centre at Selby College, Wakefield College’s Advanced Skills and Innovation Centre, and Leeds City College’s Printworks and Quarry Hill campuses.
Built in partnership with Kirklees Council, The Heritage Lottery Fund and the Dewsbury Townscape Heritage Initiative, the Springfield Centre is one of the first of a series of works under the North Kirklees Growth Strategy with total costs at £18.86 million.
Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leader of Kirklees Council, said: “The new Springfield Centre is a wonderful addition to the splendid Kirklees College. With Growth Deal funding from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, we are improving access to training and investing in our future workforce. This is an important part of our ambition to transform our economy for the benefit of everyone who lives and works here.”
Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the LEP, added: “I’m delighted to see this important new facility open in Dewsbury. This is yet another example of how our Growth Deal with Government is opening up opportunities for people across our region to gain new skills in world-class college facilities.”
The Springfield Centre, located at a former Safeway site, provides an additional 4,500m2 teaching space for courses such as Business and Enterprise, Childhood Studies, or Health and Social Care.
Kirklees College Principal, Marie Gilluley said; “We are very proud to be able to launch our Springfield Sixth Form Centre and want to thank all those involved with the project, who without their help, this centre would not be possible.
“The centre’s convenient location and excellent facilities are opening up learning opportunities to the wider community and transforming learning and lives in Dewsbury.”
The new facilities will help to attract students and staff with its significantly enhanced learning environment, curriculum offer and modern campus surroundings.
Jordan Greenall, a student of the college said “I want to join the army in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers but want to get experience and a qualification first. College is helping me get my dream career. I’m doing what I love.”
Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Jake Berry, said: “This government is committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the Northern Powerhouse and building an economy which is fit for the future.
Thanks to £11.1m of Local Growth Funding, the new Springfield Centre at Kirklees College in Dewsbury will provide a state-of-the-art teaching facilities, providing more people with the opportunity to develop new skills and succeed in the workforce across the Leeds City Region”.
