A town centre college has held a topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the building’s concrete frame.
The new Tamworth College – part of South Staffordshire College – is set to open next summer and will offer a range of courses including business, catering, engineering, early years, health and social care, hospitality, motor vehicle, sport, hair and beauty and uniformed public services.
The college welcomed the representatives from Tamworth Borough Council and other stakeholders from construction partners Kier, Peter Marsh Consulting, McBains and ACG to mark the occasion.
During the ceremony Claire Boliver, the college’s chief executive principal, completed the last section of a concrete upstand by placing the last few shovels of wet concrete and trowelling the final concrete caps on the roof.
She said: “We are so pleased to be able to mark this occasion and the progression in the new college build.
“We are excited to see the vision come to life and look forward to welcoming students to our new college in the heart of the town.
“We hope the relocation of the college to the town centre will help both local businesses and the local economy.”
Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands managing director Mark Dady, added: “We are proud to have reached this significant milestone in delivering a new home for Tamworth College, which will provide students a place to learn in the centre of the town for decades to come.
“The construction process uses our expertise of delivering large scale projects on tight town centre sites. So, this event also gives us the opportunity to celebrate the hard work and collaboration of the teams responsible for delivering this wonderful building.”
All courses offered at the college will be tailored to meet the needs of local industries, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the work upon completion of their course.
Councillor Nova Arkney, portfolio holder for infrastructure, heritage and local economy, said: “It’s wonderful to see the new Tamworth College taking shape in our town centre, and I can’t wait to see it completed and bustling with students.
“Along with the council’s regeneration work, together this sees a total investment of over £40 million into transforming our town centre so that it is once again the busy, thriving heart of the community.
“This investment is a once in a generation opportunity to develop a town centre that meets the needs of 21st century shoppers, residents and businesses.”