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Coatbridge College redevelopment
02/07/2009
Work is underway on a £22.3 million redevelopment of Coatbridge College.
The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, visited Coatbridge College today and took part in a turf-cutting ceremony outside the college which is benefitting from the accelerated capital spend announced by the Scottish Government earlier this year - a scheme enabling capital funding for future years to be brought forward to help secure construction and engineering jobs in the local and national economy.
The funding, which includes £20 million from the Scottish Funding Council and £2.3 million from the College, means that redevelopment work can start up to a year earlier than planned, with an estimated completion date of January 2011.
It will pay for major access improvements to the main building, helping people with disabilities, through the construction of new internal areas and floor levelling and the installation of lifts. An atrium between the south and north buildings will also be created, forming a new entrance. This will contain new student facilities, including a coffee internet café and seating areas, as well as giving better access to areas such as student services and the learner resource centre.
Ms Hyslop said:
"Colleges like Coatbridge have a vital role to play in ensuring our people have access to the right skills and training they need to get into work, stay in work and further their careers so that they can make a full contribution to Scotland's economic recovery when the time comes.
"I'm delighted that Coatbridge has been able to benefit from the Government's decision to accelerate our capital spending in the public sector - a move which means that projects like this can begin sooner, that jobs in construction are created or safeguarded at this difficult time and that local communities can benefit more quickly from new facilities.
"When times are hard people look to our colleges to learn new skills or engage in learning as an alternative to unemployment. The role of Government is to do all we can to support colleges in that task and the redevelopment work at Coatbridge is a clear indication of that commitment. I look forward to hearing of progress on these improvements at the college, which will benefit students and staff alike."
John Gray, Chair of the Board of Management for Coatbridge College, said:
"The continuing investment in Scotland's College's and in particular Scotland's oldest College is appreciated by both the Board of Management, College staff and in particular the many varied communities that we serve.
"This major investment in our College will provide the people of Lanarkshire and beyond with a first class fully accessible campus fit for the 21st Century."
Coatbridge College, established in 1891, has operated from its main campus, the South Building, in Kildonan Street, Coatbridge since 1934. The North Extension opened in 1982. It currently employs 363 staff (200 FTE) and provides education and training for approximately 7,200 learners, most of whom live in the adjacent towns of Coatbridge and Airdrie.
The acceleration of capital spend is part of the Scottish Government's economic recovery programme to safeguard jobs and assist Scotland's local and national economies during the current economic downturn.
In addition to the accelerated capital spend benefitting Scotland's colleges and universities, the Scottish Government has recently announced extra resources for colleges, £28.1 million over two years, as a result of the recent budget consequentials. It includes £16.1 million to enable colleges to provide thousands of additional places in the next two years, helping them address the demand caused by the economic downturn, particularly from school leavers.