Leicester College has secured Office for Students funding worth £5,395,187 from 2022-25 to deliver three major higher education capital projects across its main campuses in Leicester.

All three projects will support transition and progression for the College’s current and future T Level cohorts and will collectively increase higher education learners from the current average of 375 per year significantly by September 2024. The College will add £500,000 of match funding to complete these significant projects.

Project 1: Advanced Engineering and Aerospace

Build and equip a new aeronautical/advanced engineering training facility to enable the delivery of Level 4 and 5 higher education technical and apprenticeship programmes. This will expand engineering at the Abbey Park Campus through a new 400+sq metre, light aircraft hosting, glass-fronted technical lab adjacent to existing engineering facilities. The site will house industry-standard aeronautical equipment in a learning conducive environment and inspire the next generation of aviation and engineering professionals.

Project 2: APC HE Hub

Establish an exclusive ‘HE Hub’ for students to use as a dual social/study space and create a greater sense of a higher education undergraduate culture at the College’s Abbey Park Campus. Two classrooms will be merged, refurbished, and fitted with conferencing and meeting technology. The Hub will enable exclusive access for the existing 110 L4+ higher education APC students and will accommodate the College’s planned growth in HE.

Project 3: ICT/HE Technical Equipment upgrades

Upgrade a range of HE curriculum equipment across multiple campuses. This includes new computers, smart displays, drone technology and VR to highlight the inner workings and theories. At least four rooms will be upgraded to further enhance delivery and student experience for L4+ cohorts. This includes a new healthcare consultation space, a computer suite and lecture rooms.

Verity Hancock, Principal of Leicester College said: “We are delighted that our bid to the Office for Students was successful. This will enable us to make further significant investments in our facilities to strengthen our provision of first-class higher education for the next generation of technical experts and provide valuable progression opportunities for our current T Level students.”