Working as part of the project team with Lindum Peterborough, KGM Roofing are nearing completion on the new University Centre at the College of West Anglia (CWA) King’s Lynn Campus.

To mark the building becoming water-tight a ‘topping out’ ceremony was held on Monday (11th July) attended by students, staff and invited guests.

The centre, set to open to a new intake of degree level students in September, will be the only higher education teaching and learning facility currently available within a 40 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, scientific, technical and engineering skills to an anticipated 300 students every year.

As the result of a bid by the West Norfolk Partnership, supported by the College of West Anglia, 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.

At 2,000m² building will house 14 digital classrooms, a 120-seat multimedia lecture theatre, offices and a large ground-floor social space with kitchen facilities.

CWA Principal and Chief Executive David Pomfret said: “It has been really interesting watching the foundations of the University Centre rise from the ground over the last academic year.

“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 up-skill to degree level and 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 student 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.”

Mick Papworth, Board Director of Lindum Group, said “We 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.”