£2 million investment in farming facility
The redevelopment of Kingshill Farm, at Shuttleworth College, will now support curriculum changes in the sector and allow the college to deliver T Levels in Agriculture, Land and Environment and Animal Care.
With funding partly from Government T Level grants alongside the Group’s own resources, it will see high-quality teaching accommodation and fit-for-purpose facilities which will, in turn, provide an inspiring environment for students.
Kingshill Farm will provide the focus for the occupational specialisms of crop production, livestock production, and habitat management (land and water) as well as providing access to livestock to enhance the experience of the Animal Management T Level students.
The strong focus on sustainability and the use of regenerative farming methods provides an excellent resource for the delivery of the core knowledge and understanding required in the T Levels. This aligns with the current sector focus on improving the environment, reducing carbon emissions and improving animal health and welfare.
The Bedford Sixth Form Restoration
In January 2022 work began to restore the fabric of the Grade 2 listed Bedford Sixth Form buildings close to Bedford town centre from a Victorian building into a modern, sustainable, decarbonised campus.
Following initial developments once the campus opened as The Bedford Sixth Form in Autumn 2012, the latest investment was made with the help of £6m in grants awarded to the Group, of which The Bedford Sixth Form is part .
To replace the archaic heating system, there are now two giant air source pumps (ASHP) which will heat the whole building. This is supported by modern insulation methods including secondary glazing which complied with Heritage guidance enabling the leaded windows to be kept. To maintain the history of the building, ASHE Construction, contractors for the site, also kept in place the decorative radiators in The Grand Hall which were taken off-site, power-cleaned, restored and put back.
The Bedford College Group Project Manager Mark Eustace said:
“This has been a wonderful investment in a Victorian building, we have retained the beauty and heritage of the site whilst installing the very latest eco- technologies which supports our target of being Net Zero Carbon.”
CEO of The Bedford College Group Ian Pryce CBE said:
“Our key focus is always a better experience for students, but if the use of green technologies means we use less energy, then that means more money can go towards our students.”
Bedford's £12.6m Health, Science and Digital Centre Redevelopment
The £12.6m project to deliver a Health, Science and Digital Skills Centre at the riverside campus is one of seven major Bedford Town Deal projects, with the development benefitting from a £3m boost from the government-funded scheme.
The investment for Bedford College’s town centre campus is helping to remodel the building and upgrade a number of its spaces, including labs and IT suites.
Once open in Autumn 2023, the new look centre will enable an additional 250 full-time education students a year, as well as enhancing facilities for the 4,000 learners currently studying at the Bedford campus.
The investment into the new facilities allows us to extend qualifications in these specialisms to higher education and advanced levels so that existing students can progress further and achieve higher levels of skill in areas where employers say there is a need.
