A NEW £3m state-of-the-art laboratory is set to open at The City of Liverpool College as part of a drive to improve science and technology skills across the city region.
The laboratories at the Clarence Street campus have been funded with £3m from the £232m Growth Deal secured by Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The new Science and Learning Resource Centre (LRC) will be a facility for learning and delivering lessons and include a social learning hub at its centre.
In 2014 the Liverpool City Region LEP secured a total of £232m of Local Growth Fund from Government. The funding will help to grow the economy and create new jobs in the Liverpool City Region and includes a ring-fenced £41m allocation for skills funding.
The City of Liverpool College’s sixth form – known as City 6 – offers the widest choice of GCSEs and A-Levels in the Liverpool City Region.
Courses in English, STEM subjects, sciences, IT, technology and maths, and business courses are available with students going on to higher education at the college with its range of full time degrees or to universities in the UK.
Dr Katie Spall, Assistant Principal of City 6, said: “The College is investing £3m in creating a learning space and new laboratories because of the demand for STEM subjects in the Liverpool City Region.
“Our students have gone on to complete scientific research in their degrees at some of the top universities in the country and are working for some of the biggest companies where the skills they learned at the college are put into practice.
“The new facility will strengthen our teaching and enable us to deliver more for STEM students, who in the past have been really dedicated to their subjects and strive to do great things in their careers.
“The college is making an important investment in the future of science, not just in Liverpool but all over the country and the rest of the world.”
Councillor Ian Maher, portfolio lead for Employment and Skills for the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said: “The funding from the Growth Deal will ensure the Liverpool City Region is better positioned to attract investment and ensure long-term growth and prosperity.
“Skills is a clear priority for the Combined Authority and I’m delighted to see this investment in science and technology learning, particularly as skills in these areas are in demand from employers and will play a critical role in future economic growth.”
Welcoming the announcement Asif Hamid, Interim Chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership said: “The Growth Deal funding secured will help unlock the region’s potential as an economic powerhouse and this investment in new science facilities will help our young people acquire the right skills for the future.”