Inverness College UHI secures funding for state-of-the-art campus

The Scottish Government has given plans for a new campus for Inverness College UHI the green light, with the approval of £51million worth of public money.

The pioneering project will see staff and students relocate to the Beechwood site from the current Midmills and Longman buildings in Inverness. The creation of state-of-the-art facilities for Inverness College UHI will be a major step in developing the Beechwood Campus.

Today’s announcement is being warmly welcomed by the numerous partners involved in the project, including Inverness College UHI, the Scottish Government, the University of the Highlands and Islands, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Highland Council and the Inverness Chamber of Commerce. The investment represents a significant milestone and a sizable boost for the North’s economy.

Inverness College UHI Principal John Spencer described the announcement as “great news” for the Highland Capital and the wider region, commenting: “The new campus for Inverness College UHI will have a big impact, providing excellent opportunities for future generations of students and a boost to the development of the University of the Highlands and Islands, as well as the city and region. 

“Planning the new campus at Beechwood has been challenging in this difficult financial period, but the Government’s commitment and investment in the College will deliver huge benefits for decades to come.”

Remarking on the plans to create a region-wide education hub in Inverness, Scottish Education Secretary Michael Russell said: “The Scottish Government is consulting on wide-ranging plans to reform post-16 education, including encouraging greater collaboration and regional models of funding for colleges.

“As a focal point of the University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness has a vital role to play in Further and Higher Education in the North of Scotland. The new campus will provide considerable benefits for staff, its 8,500 students and the local economy. 

“I am very pleased to be able to commit to providing up to £51 million funding from the Scottish Funding Council to the project and await updates on its procurement and construction with interest.”

Garry Sutherland, Chairman of the Board of Management for Inverness College UHI, underlined the optimism with which the news has been received: “This will provide tremendous opportunities for the people of the Highlands. It is a once in a lifetime chance to create a valuable legacy for future generations.”

Mr. Sutherland went on to pay tribute to those involved with progressing the Campus: “To reach this point has required a lot of hard work and commitment from College staff and Board members. It is very rewarding to be able to take the project forward to completion. We are very pleased with the Government’s decision and look forward to the next stages of the project and of course the expected opening in 2015.”

Mark Batho, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “This is very good news for future students as well as for the business and communities that benefit from the work of Inverness College UHI. The development adds to a portfolio of Funding Council investments that has seen over £500m spent since 2000 with new build or major improvements in estates at 23 colleges."

James Fraser, University of the Highlands and Islands Principal and Vice-Chancellor, added: “This is excellent news for both Inverness College UHI and the University partnership as a whole. This new campus will play a vital role in the life of our new University. It will be important to the entire Highlands and Islands, not just Inverness. We look forward to the creation of a campus fit for the 21^st century, of which students, staff and the people of the region can be proud.”

Echoing the widespread delight at the announcement, Project Manager of the Inverness Campus Ruaraidh MacNeil from HIE commented: “We welcome this announcement, which confirms Inverness College UHI will be the first occupier of the multi-stakeholder Inverness Campus. Through this major investment, the College will become part of a transformational project which will bring significant benefit to the Highlands and Islands.

“The College and other Campus projects will combine to boost the region’s economy, attracting investment and creating employment. Vitally, they will also give young people from the Highlands and Islands more reason to study close to home, while attracting students from around the UK and abroad.

“Several other potential occupiers are already waiting in the wings and we will be marketing the Campus globally over the coming years as one of Scotland’s prime locations for a range of high quality businesses and other organisations.”

The £51million investment in the Inverness Campus is widely anticipated to kick start an era of economic prosperity for the North of Scotland. Chief Executive of the Inverness Chamber of Commerce Stewart Nicol stated: “I am thrilled the funding is now secured for the Campus development in Inverness. In its own right, the project represents a huge boost for the local economy, particularly for the construction sector, which continues to face major challenges. And of course, students will undoubtedly be attracted to study at this state-of-the-art, modern campus bringing immediate and obvious benefits to the region. The Beechwood development provides a significant opportunity for local businesses across a wide range of sectors.”

Highland Council is also welcoming the announcement. Provost Jimmy Gray, Chairman of the Inverness City Committee at the local authority, described the project as “the most important to go ahead in many, many years” and is confident it will open up great opportunities for the city and the wider Highlands.

Mr. Gray said: “The development of a new campus in Inverness is a top priority for the Council because it will meet the training and employment needs of the Highlands and give our economy a huge boost. The Beechwood site offers the opportunity for an integrated, sustainable and high-quality new development with wide spin-off benefits. This investment at Beechwood will finally provide Inverness with new modern facilities for a growing number of students and bring major economic benefits throughout the city.”

Local MSP Fergus Ewing has been a long standing supporter of the Inverness Campus project. The Inverness East and Nairn representative firmly believes the construction will provide a welcome boost for the area: “I am delighted that the funding announcement has now been made. T

his will be warmly welcomed in Inverness. The Beechwood campus will see thousands of students coming to Inverness to pursue their studies, and coming from all over the world. It will also make a significant positive contribution to the local economy.”

Work on procurement will begin in January 2012 and construction is set to begin in Summer 2013, with an expectation of around 20 months to complete. The College is committed to ensuring business as usual for both staff and students during this time.

The project will be funded through the Scottish Funding Council and supported by the Scottish Futures Trust using the Non-Profit Distributing procurement model.