Construction work is nearing completion on the new University Centre at our King’s Lynn Campus, situated on Tennyson Avenue. Once open in September, the centre will benefit up to 500 additional students across West Norfolk and Fenland in the next few years. A topping out ceremony to mark the building becoming water-tight took place on Monday 11 July and was attended by students, staff and invited guests. Speeches were given by Principal David Pomfret, Chairman of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership Mark Pendlington and Business Development Manager for Lindum Neil Coote. As a result of a bid by the College of West Anglia, supported by the West Norfolk Partnership, New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership secured £6.5 million funding for the construction of the new University Centre building as part of its Growth Deal with Government. The centre is set to open to a new intake of degree level students in September. Those students currently studying higher education courses will also be able to make full use of the facilities. The University Centre will be the only higher education teaching and learning facility currently available within a 35 mile radius of King’s Lynn. This is crucial both for the education and training needs of local people and for the success of businesses in West Norfolk and Fenland. The new centre will deliver higher education programmes accredited by Anglia Ruskin University, across a range of areas including business, management, science and technology to an anticipated 300 students every year. [embed]https://youtu.be/B5Q4kNUU7bU[/embed] At 2,000m², the building will be solely for higher education students and house full and part-time higher level education and training. It has 14 digital classrooms, a 120-seat multimedia lecture theatre, offices and a large ground-floor social space which includes a kitchen area for the exclusive use of higher education students. CWA Principal David Pomfret said: “It has been great to see the University Centre building rise from the ground and take shape over the last academic year to the point where we are now just a few weeks away from it being completed. “I would like to extend my gratitude to the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership for recognising and supporting the need for this higher education facility in West Norfolk. I am delighted that we will now be able to offer a much broader range of degree level courses at our site on Tennyson Avenue, King’s Lynn, and hopefully, this will inspire more people in the surrounding area to develop higher level skills, which will, in turn, increase their employability.” Mark Pendlington, Chairman of New Anglia LEP said: “Today we celebrate another great milestone for higher skills projects in the East, and for West Norfolk this means a new generation of students equipped with the scientific, engineering and technical expertise needed for our growing and dynamic economy. “Together with the newly opened King’s Lynn Innovation Centre and our new Enterprise Zone site, King’s Lynn is fast becoming the go-to destination that will attract and retain the best talent, encourage more business growth and inspire start-ups and budding entrepreneurs.” The construction contract was last year awarded to Lindum, who have worked tirelessly on the building since work commenced in November. Mick Papworth, MD of Lindum Peterborough, said: “Lindum were very pleased to be appointed the main contractor of this prestigious project and have enjoyed working with the College of West Anglia team to create this new, modern, purpose-built University Centre for the benefit of local students for years to come." See all the photos below: [gallery grids="Fancy" image_size="large" tiles="true" ids="9090,9092,9093,9094,9095,9096,9099,9100,9101,9107,9108,9109,9110" orderby="rand"]