UCEN Manchester and The Manchester College Unveil New Campus

City Campus Manchester will benefit one million Mancunians.

UCEN Manchester and The Manchester College today named its new £93million, five storey campus, which will provide industry standard training and education facilities to the people of Manchester from its location next door to the AO Arena, ‘City Campus Manchester’.

Chosen by staff and students, the name reflects the state-of-the art campus’ home in the heart of Manchester; the central role it will play in providing one million Mancunians with access to a high-quality technical education over the building’s lifetime; and the importance of education, training and skills in improving economic outcomes for the citizens of Greater Manchester.

On schedule to open its door to students in September 2022, the build has now reached a crucial milestone after builder’s Wilmott Dixon recently completed work to make the campus watertight following the installation of the roof and all external doors and windows.

During the summer months work will commence on the internal works to the campus, which will be home to the The Arden School of Theatre and Manchester Film School.

It will also provide a dedicated space for sister organisation and further education provider The Manchester College, Industry Excellence Academies for Computing & Digital, Creative and Digital Media, while also providing new facilities for the Industry Excellence Academy for Hospitality & Catering and its Centre of Excellence for Performing Arts.

Unveiling the name, John Thornhill, CEO of the LTE Group said “I am delighted that, despite Covid restrictions, the construction of this major new facility for the residents of Greater Manchester started on time and continues apace, now being watertight. As Greater Manchester recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, high quality technical education delivered in these amazing and exciting new facilities, will equip people with the skills that employers require to power the recovery that will be vital to the future economic success of the region and the life opportunities of its citizens.”

Principal Lisa O’Loughlin said: “As Greater Manchester recovers from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic, a provision of high quality technical education that equips people with the skills that employers require to power the recovery will be vital to the future economic success of the region and the life opportunities of its citizens.

The importance of a technical education to the city is reflected in the name chosen by our staff and students which also recognises how vital training and skills will be in ensuring that Manchester continues to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.

“We strongly believe that if we are to properly prepare our students for successful and rewarding careers it is essential that they learn and train in an environment that closely matches that they will experience when they enter the world of work in their chosen sector or field. Our significant investment in developing these amazing and exciting new facilities in the heart of Manchester, aligned to the needs of the Greater Manchester economy and skills strategy, will deliver an environment in which all learners can thrive.

“Coupled with a curriculum offer that is co-developed and co-delivered with leading employers and industry partners, City Campus Manchester will provide the perfect place for students to call home as they develop the skills that will set them on the path to becoming the next generation of industry excellence.”

The new city centre campus forms part of a £140m investment The Manchester College and UCEN Manchester’s parent company, the LTE Group, is making in the education provider’s campuses, representing one of the largest co-created and co-funded projects the post-16 education sector has ever seen.

New facilities will include:

• Cutting edge IT suites and maintenance labs fully equipped with the latest high spec kit, including a dedicated cyber-security lab and operations centre for HE students at UCEN Manchester where students will prepare for a career in the regions rapidly growing digital sector
   
• A ‘Click Studio’ providing digital design and computer repair services run by students
   
• TV, radio and sound studios with production gantry and editing suites for FE students. The Manchester Film School will include two large double height film studios, 5 Edit suites and a state of the art Foley Suite, complete with a set-build workshop and production room. An infinity green wall that will enable students to add a touch of Hollywood to their productions and bring them fully to life
   
• Two game design and production suites where students will use the latest technology to prepare for a career designing the games that sit at the heart of the rapidly growing e-gaming sector
   
• A 40-seat restaurant & bar, training kitchen and bakery, with external street level access where students in the Industry Excellence Academy for Hospitality and Catering will receive a Michelin Star training experience, participating in masterclass sessions with the region’s leading chef’s in partnership with The Chef’s Forum
   
• Nine rehearsal rooms with full PA systems, five recording studios, four Mac suites running state of the art industry software and a DJ studio for Music students
   
• Make-up artistry and special effects specialist studios for the film and TV industry
   
• Two Learning Resources Centres providing a range of study environments including collaborative working spaces, silent study areas and bookable meeting rooms
   
• Six double height professional multi-purpose studios with semi-sprung Harlequin floor systems for Performing Arts and dance students, with stunning views out over the city and direct access to the roof terrace
   
• The Arden School of Theatre will have access to two full sized theatres, including the centre piece Jewel Box theatre, fully equipped to industry standard, with set design and build workshops and wardrobes for costume design and build.
   
• Eight inspiring, dynamic and collaborative studio and workshop spaces for Visual Arts students specialist studio workshops for fashion, textiles, photography, jewellery, ceramics, printmaking, 3D design and digital media and an incredible double height collaborative art studio and exhibition space for Visual Arts students.