Xchanging the old for the new

Pictured from left to right: Sue Griffiths,
Yvette Cooper, Heather MacDonald and
David Sykes cut the turf at Wakefield
College Skills Xchange

A turf cutting ceremony has marked the beginning of construction work on Wakefield College's new state-of-the-.art learning facility at Glasshoughton - The Skills Xchange, which is partly funded by the LSC.

Yvette Cooper, MP for Pontefract and Castleford, was joined by Wakefield college principal, Heather MacDonald, and Stuart McLoughlin, managing director of developers Waystone, as she cut the first turf on the site.

Fifty Year Nine school children from local high schools - Featherstone High, Kings High, Knottingley High, Carleton High and Castleford High - held sections of an image, creating a 25 metre wide representation of the new build, as a background. Yvette, Heather and Stuart each spoke to local business and community leaders and College staff and Governors attending the event, expressing their hopes and excitement for the iconic new learning facility.

Yvette commented: "This is a fantastic opportunity to give people new state-of-the-art facilities in an exciting location, here in the heart of the Five Towns. Too many of our local teenagers still drop out of education and don't get the experience and skills they need. If we can give them the training they need early on, it will help them for the rest of their lives."

David Sykes, partnership director for the LSC in Wakefield, said: "We are delighted to support Wakefield College in creating what will truly be an environment of excellence where high quality learning can take place. It reflects our commitment to invest in Further Education and its vital role in delivering skills for employment and economic success."

Leading property advisor GVA Grimley has worked with the College throughout the project, advising on the development agreement, overseeing the planning application and supporting the College with the sale of its Whitwood Campus. The company will now project manage and monitor the construction programme.

John Keyes, partner of GVA Grimley's Strategic Property Consultancy team, says: "With work now underway, we will be responsible for ensuring a smooth build process and we are delighted to continue our long standing relationship with this project. The development will breathe new life into this substantial site, which covers approximately nine acres and the Skills Xchange is set to become a striking and prominent building that will sit comfortably alongside the Xscape ski slope and the other iconic properties that occupy the site."

The 77 week build is due for completion in October 2008 and will see students through its doors in January 2009. The Xchange will house the provision which is currently offered at the College's Whitwood Campus, including Hair and Beauty Therapy, Construction, Motor Vehicle and Engineering.