WARRINGTON South MP Andy Carter has welcomed new University of Chester sites, based in the town centre, which will welcome more than 1,000 students in the new year.
“University Centre Warrington” will deliver education to the heart of Warrington town centre at a building which is currently empty in Time Square and (subject to planning permission) a second location in Barbauld Street.
Mr Carter has welcomed the University’s progress which will support the UK’s recovery from the pandemic by providing opportunities for adults to further develop the skills needed for well-paid employment throughout their lives.
He said:“The vision and plans for town-based centre for students is very welcome, this is yet another great addition to the area, bringing high-quality education and learning to the centre of Warrington and 1500 additional people supporting the local economy.
“Not only is this investment great for the regeneration of the local area but it will provide a bigger skills base for local businesses and firms looking to hire people from the North West.
“The development will also complement the £22m investment we are putting into the Town Deal, providing close links to our hospital and the planned Health & Social Care academy, training the next generation of nurses and health professionals.”
Professor Eunice Simmons, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are thrilled that the University’s plans to give higher education greater prominence in Warrington are taking shape. At a busy time for applicants, we were excited to share our vision to deliver targeted learning, advice and cultural activities to students and the wider community and support economic growth.
“Through local collaborations with employers, schools and partner colleges, we will be introducing more possibilities for learners, with higher-level vocational skills through degrees and apprenticeships in policing, teaching, health and social care, meeting local and regional skills needs. Chester Business School will deliver enterprise and sustainability-focused courses to support a green, inclusive economic recovery.
“We have highly employable graduates. The latest statistics, published this week and reflecting the pandemic period, show that 90% were in employment and/or further study within 15 months of finishing their course, which is above the sector average.”
The Time Square space has been refurbished and equipped to be operational from late 2021 and is to be the showcase for the University in Warrington. It will host an information point for members of the public to engage with the learning opportunities available from the University.
It will also include bookable learning space for students using laptops and digital resources, breakout spaces for seminars and a small lecture space for talks and events. This town centre location will also work with partners to highlight the opportunities available for both learners and businesses and will include offers from Further Education partners and key business support programmes, working with Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.
It is proposed that a building on Barbauld Street, formerly called ‘Mersey Bank House’, will house the majority of the teaching provision for Education and Nursing. It has been renamed the ‘Sarah Parker Remond Building’ after a prominent 19th-century abolitionist, doctor and women’s rights campaigner, who gave an influential series of lectures in Warrington.
Picture: Mr Carter with Brian Fitzpatrick, Head of Special Projects and Prof Eunice Simmons, Vice-Chancellor.
