Friday 25th March 2022 marked the official topping out ceremony of the brand-new Health and Digital Centre at Bury College. The event celebrated the last steel frame being placed at the top of the new structure.

The over £9 million new build, which is being delivered by H.H. Smith & Sons Co. Ltd, is expected to start welcoming students in Autumn 2022. As construction progresses, the next stages will include concreting, exterior wall cladding and window installations to the structure, before starting on the internal works.

The new building will provide facilities for a range of exciting courses, from advanced to degree level, including those leading to jobs in Health and Nursing and Computing and Digital roles, this will include T Levels and a brand new Esports course.

Learning will be hands-on and industry-led, allowing students to gain the qualifications needed to springboard them into their career. The centre will play a major part in training the professionals of the future and provide an opportunity for them to find employment in a number of dynamic sectors.

Christian Wakeford, MP for Bury South, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for future generations delivered here at Bury College. It is a huge achievement for everyone involved, and I would like to wish everyone who will be starting a course in the new building good luck.”

“As the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on T Levels, it is especially exciting that the new T Level qualifications will be taught in the new building. The split between classroom learning and work placements is a great way for students to get out into the local industry.”

James Daly, MP for Bury North, said: “It’s great to see Bury College widening its offer across so many different departments. This will have a huge impact on the student’s education.”

“Building strong links between education and industry is very important, and this new building will be the perfect place for that.”

Robert Smith, managing the new build with his construction company H.H. Smith & Sons Co. Ltd, also emphasised the benefits the new facilities would have for local industry. He said: “We’re going to be in a position soon where we can start employing people who have learned their trade in this very building. It’s great to have a good partnership with a local college.”

For more information on the development of the new building. https://burycollege.ac.uk/about-us/new-centre-development/