Shipley College First To See Benefits of Investment Programme

Refurbishment of Shipley College’s Mill Building has now been completed with funds secured from the LEP and West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Local Growth Deal funding.

The project is the first to complete using £119,000 from Skills Capital Programme and will improve learning facilities for local people and employers.

The grant funding contributed towards investment in critical improvements to both the physical and IT infrastructure of the college facilities.

Best possible learning facilities

Nav Chohan, Shipley College Principal said: “The investment from the LEP has not only helped maintain our first class facilities but also allowed us to protect an historic building for another generation.”

Following a recent visit to the site, Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (the LEP) said:

“Ensuring students have access to the best possible learning facilities is crucial to supporting skills development and employment prospects.

“Visiting the refurbished college building and meeting some of the students that are benefitting from this investment showed exactly why we are prioritising these infrastructure projects, making learning environments brighter, warmer and ultimately a space for talent to grow and prosper.

“It is particularly pleasing that this is our first Growth Deal funded project to complete, demonstrating the impact of working in partnership to benefit people’s lives and further our economic growth.”

Visit www.shipley.ac.uk for more information about the college and the courses offered.

Additional information regarding the LEP Growth Deal:

WYCC and the wider Leeds City Region Skills Network were instrumental in helping the LEP secure £79m through the Growth Deal, the largest government settlement to invest in upgraded college premises and create world class learning environments in the City Region.

Four colleges were successful in the first round of the Skills Capital funding including Shipley College, Calderdale College, Kirklees College and Leeds City College. A further four projects have been approved in the second round which includes Bradford College for an Advanced Technology Centre, Shipley College for further investment in the Salt Building and IT upgrade project , Selby College for the Aspiration Building Refurbishment and Extension and Wakefield College to establish an Advanced Skills and Innovation Centre.