Guests from education, construction, and regional employers joined staff and students for the official opening of Bradford College’s Garden Mills building.   A multimillion-pound renovation project has transformed the derelict mill on Thornton Road into a flexible digital, science, and allied health training facility for higher-level students. The 1900s five-storey building opened after months of construction work supported by £5.8 million in funding from The Office for Students (OfS) Higher Education Capital Fund and a £1.1 million College contribution.  The site is now Bradford College’s dedicated building for HNC, HND, and degree programmes in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), including digital and ophthalmic courses. The site supplements the extensive STEM facilities established across other College campuses. Contractors Tilbury Douglas led the Garden Mills project and installation of industry-standard equipment, including six digital IT labs, an ophthalmic dispensing suite, a prep room, a clinical suite, a real-life work environment with consulting and testing booths, a collaboration area, and academic teaching spaces. Bradford College Director of People Services, Sarah Cooper, addressed invited guests, which included employers from digital and ophthalmic industries such as Specsavers and the Association of British Dispensing Opticians, as well as representatives from Bradford Council and the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. Sarah said:“We are thrilled that this incredible new learning environment is now open to our staff and students, and I’m sure you’ll agree it is a wonderful new addition to both Bradford College’s estate and the resources available to the local community.

 “We’re delighted that Garden Mills is now ready for staff and students. It is an essential part of our estates strategy and perfectly demonstrates our ambition of opening up pioneering student careers that support regional growth.” After speeches, guests enjoyed a tour of the new cutting-edge Garden Mills facilities which concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Bradford College CEO & Principal, Chris Webb. Garden Mills is one of several current Bradford College capital developments. Over the last two years, Bradford College secured nearly £32 million in funding, which is being used to enhance, refurbish, and build aspirational new facilities in the heart of Bradford. Other construction projects include newly completed vocational T Level facilities in the College’s David Hockney Building, overseen by Sewell Construction and funded by £3.5 million from the Department for Education (T Level Capital Fund – Wave 5). New facilities include a commercial barbering salon, nail bar, collaborative lecture spaces, TV studio, media editing and recording studios, and a remodel of The Grove training restaurant. Work on the College’s purpose-built Future Technologies Centre is also well underway with Phase 2 of the scheme led by contractor Morgan Sindall. This new site will support the growth of technology and low-carbon skills capability within West Yorkshire and be the home of modern automotive and digital engineering curricula, such as electric/hybrid vehicles and advanced manufacturing.  The College’s Automotive, Digital and Engineering Department will relocate to the new premises once completed in 2026. Students will use industry-relevant facilities to gain skills in new technologies for careers in a fast-moving sector.  The project was made possible by a £15 million investment from the Department for Education’s Further Education Capital Transformation Fund (FECTF), boosted by a £2m College contribution.  The Future Technologies Centre, Garden Mills, and T Level facilities all form part of Bradford College’s ambitious estates strategy. The capital masterplan centres around building facilities that open up pioneering student careers and support regional economic growth.Find out more about the Garden Mills project and other ongoing capital projects: www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk/capitalprojects Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Henry Boot Construction, part of Henry Boot, has completed work on a major innovation facility at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). 1Located next to the AMRC’s flagship Factory 2050 at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, the new 29,700 sq ft building delivers a state-of-the-art research and development hub which will be home to Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS). The open-access facility will house cutting-edge research programmes aimed at meeting the growing demand for lighter commercial aircraft and supporting the aviation industry’s ultimate goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The building itself has been awarded an impressive BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating, with notable sustainable features including the installation of solar PV panels on both the lower and upper roofs, and air source heat pumps – combining to reduce the building’s overall carbon footprint. A high-performing building for the future, the facility has also been constructed to enable seamless integration with Sheffield’s district heating network by Veolia. As part of its commitment to regional growth, lead contractor Henry Boot Construction has worked closely with local supply chain partners on the project, including Sheffield-based firm Elecomm, who was selected as the principal Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) partner for the project. Tony Shaw, Managing Director from Henry Boot Construction, said: “We are pleased to have successfully delivered this world-class facility in partnership with the University of Sheffield and our regional supply chain. Our work on the AMRC further strengthens our long-standing relationship with the university and demonstrates our commitment to delivering truly innovative projects. “We are particularly proud to have built a facility that will be used by some of the world’s largest manufacturing brands, helping to drive our economy forward and create more high-quality jobs in the region.” Emma Hutton, AMRC director of major projects, added: “This new facility represents a significant milestone in the UK’s aerospace and manufacturing sector, offering a unique opportunity for industry partners to access cutting-edge equipment and expertise. “This is a collaborative R&D environment which will foster innovation and accelerate technological advancements, contributing to the nation’s economic growth and global competitiveness.” The new innovation facility has been jointly funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council, the University of Sheffield and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. It will house a raft of advanced-manufacturing equipment secured through a £29.5m grant from the UK Government’s Aerospace Technology Institute Programme. The first programme to be undertaken in the new space is the Isothermic High-Rate Sustainable Structures (IHSS) project, led by global aerospace leader Boeing in partnership with AMRC, Loop Technology and Spirit AeroSystems. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

London Metropolitan University is proud to demonstrate its comprehensive approach to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. The university’s commitment is backed by a £250 million investment into a transformational programme over seven years, focusing on enhancing its estate and digital infrastructure without the need to resort to borrowing of any kind. Central to its sustainability drive is its Estates Strategy which is focused on creating vibrant, student-focused campuses with cutting-edge facilities, with all of its heating and cooling coming from semi-renewable sources. Professor Julie Hall, Vice-Chancellor of London Metropolitan University, said: “I believe that universities have an obligation to lead on sustainability. Universities account for such a large proportion of the built environment, making it crucial that sustainable practises are introduced to have a positive impact on not only the university itself, but the surrounding areas and the local community in which they operate. She added: “We are proud to be leading by example with our commitment to net zero and are making tangible changes to ensure that we are providing world-class education for our students, as well as creating campuses that are environmentally responsible and a community that is greener for all.” London Met’s sustainability efforts extend beyond its physical infrastructure. Through its civic university status and the London Met Lab: Empowering London initiative, the institution is actively engaging with local communities to address their environmental challenges. One of the strategy’s standout projects is the university’s tree-planting initiative, which will see over 400 trees planted across its campuses. This project supports the important tasks of providing food and shelter for wildlife, tackling carbon emissions, improving air quality and combatting biodiversity loss. It has also embarked on a bee rehoming project, with the Rocket building at the Holloway campus now being home to 40,000 bees. Several beehives have been installed on campus rooftops, providing a haven for these pollinators and offering students hands-on learning opportunities in conservation and environmental studies. Last year it also launched the School of the Built Environment, a collaboration between leading businesses, practitioners and professional bodies within the property and construction sectors. The new school aims to prepare students for the green jobs of the future. By developing new initiatives and continuous collaborative work between students, staff and key stakeholders the university previously reduced its carbon footprint by 78% by 2019-20 from a 2009 baseline figure and met the Government’s ( HEFCE ) 2020 target four years early.  London Metropolitan University’s bold investment and sustainability strategy set a new benchmark for higher education institutions in the UK. As it works towards its 2030 net-zero goal, the university is proud to be positioning itself as a leader in sustainable education, creating campuses and communities that can thrive. For more information about London Metropolitan University’s Estates Strategy and sustainability initiatives, please visit www.londonmet.ac.uk/about/sustainability/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

ACCELERATING educational development, work on two new schools with an emphasis on sustainability has completed in Bedfordshire, delivering space for up to 1,740 pupils within a growing local community. The regional projects, Wixams Academy and Willow Grove Primary School, form part of an ambitious £100m schools development initiative within Bedford, which is being led by multi-disciplinary consultancy Pick Everard and Bedford Borough Council. Building on its opening in 2017, Wixams Academy, on Green Lane, has been extended to cater for an additional 900 students as part of a £34m project, with the creation of a three-storey teaching block, eight classroom modular block, all-weather sports pitch, and sports hall. Wixams Academy has also received a £250,000 grant from the England Cricket Board (ECB) to enhance its facilities per ECB standards and make the sport accessible to all pupils. The new enhancements include upgraded lighting, flooring, netting, and bowling machines. Meanwhile, Willow Grove Primary School, designed according to Department for Education (DfE) guidelines, is net zero carbon in operation and has space for 840 pupils across a 3.4-hectare site. Claire Peacock, senior project manager at Pick Everard, said: “This has been a fantastic project to be part of and a great opportunity to deliver more school spaces for young people in Bedford. “Wixams Academy in particular now has some industry-leading sports facilities, while Willow Grove Primary School is an exciting new space for younger children to take their early pathways into education. “We look forward to both environments becoming cornerstones of the Wixams community.” Sustainability was a key development objective for both schools, with designated cycle parking spaces and facilities encouraging green travel habits. More than 400 solar panels were installed on the roof of Willow Grove Primary School, helping generate its own renewable energy.                                                                                                                                                       Pick Everard, operating via Perfect Circle, was appointed by Bedford Borough Council under the SCAPE Consultancy framework and delivered project management, quantity surveying, NEC supervisor, and principal designer services on the two projects, working closely alongside principal contractor Willmott Dixon. Stewart Brundell, managing director at Willmott Dixon said: “We are proud to have continued our strong partnership of delivering high quality educational facilities with both Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough councils and our wider partners. “The completion of Willow Grove Primary School, alongside a new sports hall and teaching block at Wixams Academy, is a testament to our education expertise and collaboration. With Willow Grove Primary School delivered from start to finish in just 27 months, this incredible achievement highlights what a dedicated project team can accomplish.” Sean Conneely, director at Pick Everard, said: “These are exciting times in Bedford, which like most places across the country, is striving to meet the demands of an ever-growing population. “With modern and accessible teaching environments housed in a sustainable, high-quality build, both of these schools set the standard in creating lasting legacies in their communities. “It’s been a huge positive to see all this achieved within a short period of time, with families now able to benefit from new and expanded schools close to their homes.” Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton, said: “Wixams is continuing to grow into a thriving community, with these new state-of-the-art facilities being an illustration of the bright future which awaits the young people who will grow up here. “Across Bedford Borough, we’re determined to invest in the future, build up and support our communities. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.” In addition to educational projects, the relationship between Pick Everard and Bedford Borough Council has also seen it undertake cross-sector operations in the region, with healthcare centres, heritage works, residential, and commercial projects among its portfolio, alongside the new railway station in Wixams.  For more information on Pick Everard and the services it provides, visit: www.pickeverard.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The new £5.4m Construction Skills Centre (CSC) at Nottingham College is now complete and open for students, as marked with an official handover last week. The CSC is a new build specialist centre offering flexible teaching and learning facilities that will support the curriculum and estate objectives of the college, meeting the growing need to provide training for construction skilled trades in the local area. Delivered by midlands contractor, G F Tomlinson, the CSC will act as a critical educational facility meeting the rising demand for post-16 sector education. The scheme was procured through Pagabo’s Medium Works framework managed by Pagabo on behalf of contracting authority The Education Alliance.    The building is designed to align with the Department for Education’s (DfE) output specification and support the sustainability ambitions of Nottingham College, working towards becoming carbon zero by 2030. The 1,500m² building comprises a large double height construction trades workshop, as well as additional classrooms, a smaller modern construction workshop and associated staff and support facilities. The handover was a great opportunity to highlight the modern facilities the CSC has to offer, helping to support Nottingham College’s commitment to improving vocational education and training for its students. The scheme is the first of two major new additions to the college portfolio that G F Tomlinson has worked on this year, the contractor is also close to completing a new centre for Students with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities (The Gateway) – a new two-storey building comprising 13 classrooms, a teaching kitchen, dining area and ancillary spaces, as well as associated external works which is due for completion in December this year. As part of G F Tomlinson’s commitment to delivering social value, a total of £1.8 million social value-added was provided on the scheme, calculated using specialist social value tool, Loop. Activities included including organised site visits, regular newsletters and career talks with students from nearby schools. 1,669 apprentice hours, 44.5 apprentice weeks and 779 student engagements were also provided by G F Tomlinson’s construction ambassadors. The company also partnered with Nottingham College earlier in the year and hosted a two-day workshop for their construction students. Using materials kindly donated by Vision Joinery, the students learned valuable carpentry skills by designing and building bird boxes. The workshop not only enhanced the students’ practical abilities but also aligned with joint sustainability goals by supporting local wildlife. 79% of local labour was sourced within a 20-mile radius and 81% local spend within 20 miles of the site. Other sustainability initiatives on the project involved the installation of 60 PV panels, three air source heat pumps and the achievement of 100% waste recycled and diverted from landfill, contributing positively to the local environment and national carbon net-zero agenda. Adrian Grocock, Managing Director of G F Tomlinson, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the development of this major scheme for Nottingham College, building on our extensive education experience through the Pagabo framework. This project is crucial in addressing the growing demand for skilled trades training in the local area and the centre will not only support the college’s curriculum but also play a pivotal role in upskilling the local workforce to meet the needs of the construction sector within the region.” Carl Ara, Assistant Principal at Nottingham College Basford Campus, said: “A project of this scale was ambitious, making it incredibly satisfying to see it come to life. Watching our students learn and grow in this new space is truly rewarding, and these facilities will elevate our training programmes, empowering young people and adults across the city to excel in full-time study programmes and apprenticeships. “G F Tomlinson has done an exceptional job – completing a project of this magnitude on a busy campus was no small feat. The builders also provided invaluable experiences for our construction students, from site tours and industry talks to hands-on work placements. “As demand for skilled construction workers rises, especially in housing, transport, and renewable energy, our new CSC enables us to equip the next generation with the skills they need for the future.” Adam Brumfitt, Midlands regional delivery manager at Pagabo, commented on the collaboration: “The Construction Skills Centre is poised to significantly enhance the educational experience for students and staff alike, and we are proud to have contributed to its development by ensuring the compliant appointment of GF Tomlinson as main contractor. With the use of social value tool Loop, it’s fantastic to see the bigger impact that this project has had on its local community too.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Greatfields School, in the heart of Barking, East London, has officially been completed as part of a transformational build programme. Net Zero Panels (NZP), a specialised division of Net Zero Buildings and part of the Premier Modular Group, worked with main contractor, Auburn Group, to deliver the third and final phase of the 21,500 sqm development.   The redevelopment, which sits in the former Gascoigne Estate, introduced an ‘inside out’ design for the school, introducing larger classrooms with modern amenities. Teachers are now able to take advantage of flexible spaces according to their teaching needs.   Originally opened in September 2016, the school is the centre of learning for 950 students, and part of a wider campus that caters to over 2,400.   The school recently celebrated excellent GCSE results, with headteacher Richard Paul praising teachers and school leaders for their “unrelenting efforts and the countless extra hours of support.”  NZP is dedicated to providing practical, low carbon panelised solutions to address performance challenges for buildings such as airtightness, structural and thermal issues.   NZP was brought in during the final phase of development, to help ensure the school’s new, permanent location is holistically futureproofed. With fire safety a top priority for the school, NZP worked closely with all stakeholders to deliver non-combustible, fire tested panels with concrete flooring.   Jack Randall, director of NZP said: “It’s amazing to see what has been achieved at Greatfields, a project we’re really proud to say we have worked on. From our perspective, it was important to look at each individual aspect of compliance, including structural performance and sustainability, as a whole.    “Our holistic approach to helping customers helps maintain control over cost, carbon mitigation and emissions, compliance and combustibility, as well as futureproofing projects such as Greatfields School for years to come.”  Mike O’Dell, Construction Director at Auburn Group, commented: “Working with NZP, we knew we’d have a partner that not only came with the exact experience we needed, but could also provide us with big picture support through their deep understanding of net zero as well as the compliance required for projects such as Greatfields.”  The final phase of development was officially opened through a ribbon cutting event.   Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Contractor Clegg Construction has completed a £13m expansion project at Carlton le Willows Academy which has created new space and improved learning environments. The first phase of the development at the school in Gedling, Nottingham, involved building South Block – a new two-storey building to provide a state-of-the-art performance space, dining hall, 20 new classrooms, office space and a new main reception which has united the previously split site by linking the East and West buildings. Designed by Welham Architects, South Block has recently been highly commended in the regional LABC (Local Authority Building Control) Building Excellence Awards. Now the second part of the improvements – extensive alterations and refurbishment in various parts of the existing school, including the conversion of the previous dining area and assembly hall into additional teaching space – has also been completed. It marks the fourth project Clegg Construction has undertaken in partnership with the academy. Ross Crowcroft, pre-construction director at Clegg Construction, said: “Clegg Construction has had a long relationship with Carlton le Willows Academy, supporting the school in a number of improvement projects. “We are delighted to have completed these latest two schemes, which provide additional first-class facilities for those already at the school, as well as allowing the school to expand the number of places it can offer to youngsters in the nearby community. “As a Nottingham-based company, Clegg Construction takes particular pride in helping to improve the local education infrastructure and delivering facilities that will benefit future generations.” South Block created capacity for a further 300 extra students at Carlton le Willows Academy to meet increasing local demand for school places. It features a range of smart technology to ensure long-term sustainability, including optimising natural light and using low-energy lighting throughout the building, natural ventilation and cooling, and underfloor heating. As well as the new extension, the project involved the creation of a new car park for just under 100 cars, along with infrastructure for electric charging points. A sustainable drainage solution has also been installed as part of the groundworks, which included an attenuation tank aimed at avoiding any extra burden on the existing public sewers caused by rainwater. Other members of the project team included local businesses: GNA Surveyors, Moran Structural Consultants and Integrated Energy Building Services (IEBS). The development has been funded by Nottinghamshire County Council. During the construction and renovation periods, Clegg Construction took part in a careers fair during the summer term to help students at Carlton le Willows Academy understand more about careers available in the construction industry. The company has a long track record of delivering award-winning educational projects across primary and secondary schools, colleges, sixth form facilities and universities and has worked with Carlton le Willows since 2005 to create science labs, a resource centre, a music and drama extension, refurbish a library building, and build a Sixth Form centre complete with an ICT room and two teaching rooms. Education schemes currently being delivered by Clegg Construction include the £9.6m Centre for Green Technology at Peterborough College – which is set to hand over early next year – as well as the £8.8m Future Tech Skills and Knowledge Exchange at West Nottinghamshire College, which is due for completion next summer. With its headquarters in The Lace Market, Nottingham, Clegg Construction is a Midlands, East Anglia, and Yorkshire-based construction firm specialising in the delivery of public and private sector projects. The company works with organisations of all sizes and specialties across a range of different sectors. For more information visit www.cleggconstruction.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals