MP Theo Clarke has visited Stafford College’s new £28 million Skills and Innovation Centre to see how construction is progressing after she was instrumental in gaining funding for the project.
Mrs Clarke joined new college principal Craig Hodgson and borough council deputy leader Jeremy Purt for the visit last week.
The trio were shown around the three-storey, 8,000sq m development scheduled for completion later this year.
It will provide students with leading edge construction, engineering and hybrid vehicle technology workshops in the heart of Stafford along with a sports hall, gym and 300-seat auditorium.
Mrs Clarke worked hard with ministers and officials in 2020/21 to secure the money and spoke with the then education secretary on behalf of the college.
Following this, it was announced that Stafford was one of 16 colleges in England to benefit from the Government’s £1.5 billion FE Capital Transformation Fund.
“It was a pleasure to return to the college to see how this exciting project is progressing towards completion,” said Mrs Clarke.
“This is going to be a game changer for students in Stafford and beyond and it is a huge investment by the Government in further education that will benefit generations.
“I am proud to have played a part in getting to this point and I thank Stafford College for the opportunity to visit and for its tireless work on behalf of our local young people to equip them with the skills they need to gain top quality vocational qualifications that will lead to well-paid careers.”
The college has also been earmarked to become one of only 20 Institutes of Technology by the Government in a move Mrs Clarke said would continue to build a long-term centre of educational excellence in the town.
Craig Hodgson said: “ I am delighted with how the building is progressing and I am very much looking forward to hosting students in September in NSCG’s latest landmark, state of the art, facilities which builds on the College’s tremendous exam successes and Outstanding Ofsted achievements."
