£25m Stockport College campus: the latest addition to the town’s regeneration programme

Stockport College officially opened its campus redevelopment programme on 24th March, which follows another recent achievement where the college received a rating of ‘GOOD’ from Ofsted. The events are clear evidence of the strides being made by Stockport College as part of its ambition to raise the profile and uptake of technical education in the town and ensuring the college’s offer meets the skills needs of employers across the borough.

The Mayor of Stockport, David Wilson, was joined by the Principal and CEO of Stockport College, James Scott, and other dignitaries to cut the ribbon and celebrate the completion of the £25m project which has seen the construction of two new buildings, the Lyme Building and a £7m Arts & Creative Media Centre, as well as the refurbishment of existing facilities.

The campus now boasts industry standard facilities for professional studies including accounting, computing, counselling, education, and training; the creative industries including art, media, hair, beauty and nails; as well as the construction trades including bricklaying, and carpentry and joinery.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in conjunction with the Greater Manchester Business Board, were proud to support the College’s vision for redevelopment and contributed a £16m grant towards the redevelopment costs through the Local Growth Fund programme, which was further supplemented by funding from the Department for Education as well as the college itself.

Central to the design phase of the project was listening to local employers as part of the college’s ongoing commitment to developing a responsive offer that can meet the immediate skills and employment needs of specific sectors within Stockport. As a result, the new campus features a dedicated business centre, revised course listings, and a dedicated Employer Partnerships Team as part of its plan to provide a clearer offer for employers around core business skills, including leadership and management training.

Tracey Wood, who heads up the college’s adult skills and employer team, said:

“The need for businesses to develop leadership skills, digital skills and more sustainable practices has never been more important and here at Stockport College, local businesses will have access to a range of new training and upskilling development opportunities, including short courses and apprenticeships.

“We have invested in an Employer Partnerships Team to work specifically with businesses, no matter the size, to provide advice, support and how to attract, increase and sustain their workforces and talent pipelines, utilising the various funding available.”

The redevelopment project is a key part of the college’s ambition to raise the profile and uptake of technical education in Stockport and ensuring the college’s offer meets the skills needs of employers across the borough. The college offers part and full time technical education and courses for people of all ages, including Higher Education courses delivered by the college’s University Centre.

James Scott, Principal and CEO, said: “There is an increasing national and regional focus on skills and technical education through new opportunities such as T Levels and Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs). The new college estate represents our ongoing commitment to meeting the skills priorities of our local area providing stu- dents with the best possible educational experience, and ensuring access to the resources they need to succeed.”

The Mayor of Stockport, David Wilson, said: “The project investment over the last few years has been significant and I am confident that Stockport College will be a strong asset to the local community. It is the latest addition to the continued regeneration of the town centre and will be a pipeline for the talented workforce our local businesses need to address the skills gaps and job vacancies they continue to grapple with.”

With the project completed Stockport College is ideally placed to meet the wider ambitions of the borough and region which includes being an important player in the recent skills devolution deal signed by Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham alongside Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison, and the ten local council Leaders. The deal, which was signed on 21st March, signals a landmark deeper devolution deal for Greater Manchester, marking a seismic shift in power, funding, and responsibility from Whitehall to the region.

The new campus is a major success story for Stockport and is a testament to the college’s commitment to providing high quality education and training to its students. Access to the college’s full range of courses can be found at stockport.ac.uk and businesses looking to discuss training and skills can contact employers@tcg.ac.uk or tracey. wood@tcg.ac.uk