The University of Westminster has successfully secured a £5.8m grant from the Higher Education regulator Office for Students (OfS) to build innovative training spaces at 29 Marylebone Road, London.
The nine-storey building is set to become the UK’s most inclusive Centre for Employability and Enterprise, with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability at its heart. It is due to open in Summer 2024, if planning permission is granted, and will bridge the gap between education and the business world.
The OfS grant, which has been secured following a successful capital bid, will contribute to developing facilities that are designed to meet the specialist skills needs of industry and employers. It will go towards building new training suites for apprentices and short courses, a digital skills training centre, a studio space and a collaborative working space at the site. Together, these facilities majorly enhance employability outcomes for students and will provide access to university-level learning for employers and the local community.
Located just across the road from the University’s Marylebone Campus in the heart of Central London, the building will bring employers, local residents and the University’s communities under one roof. It will provide students with access to inspirational employer-led events and activities as well as training and networking opportunities for employers and local organisations.
Jordan Scammell, Head of Development and Fundraising at the University of Westminster, said: "I am thrilled that we have successfully secured a significant grant from the OfS to support our ambitions at 29 Marylebone Road. Informed by extensive industry research, the funding bid placed our plans front and centre in terms of how we will respond to employers' needs. 29 Marylebone Road will open up access for our students to highly skilled jobs through a skills-based education and provide employers with a diverse talent base to meet their current skills gap and future skills needs."
Linsey Cole, Director of Business Engagement at the University of Westminster said: “The new facilities at 29 Marylebone Road will be a game-changer for students and employers alike directly meeting their skills needs. We are delighted to have secured the OfS investment to develop facilities to grow our apprenticeship and short course provision and provide our students with the skills they need to succeed in industry and transform their futures.”
Susan Lapworth, Chief Executive of the Office for Students, said: "Investing in modern buildings and innovative equipment will help universities and colleges in England prepare students for their future careers. Modern laboratories and state of the art technology mean students learn with the best facilities. Our investment will also increase the provision of short courses that offer flexibility to boost the skills of the workforce.
"Competition for funding was strong, with high quality applications from across the sector.
"The OfS-funded capital projects will ensure current and future students have a positive experience while studying expensive-to-deliver subjects that are strategically important to society. Taxpayers will feel these benefits too, as our investment will boost local and regional economies and support environmental sustainability."
The Office for Students is an independent public body that works with Higher Education institutions to ensure students succeed.