Wirral Met College announces new Professional Studies Campus

Thanks to the support of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s capital funding and an innovative partnership between Wirral Met College (@WirralMet) and Wirral Borough Council, Wirral Met College will open its new Professional Studies Campus in September 2021 to house its extensive range of learning opportunities for Leadership, Professional Studies and Trades Union Education. 

Previously known as the ‘Treasury Building’ at the corner of Hamilton Square in Birkenhead, the campus will provide state of the art learning and business facilities that cover a range of professional career pathways including accountancy, human resource management, leadership, business management and development programmes from Level 2 to post graduate level.

The College’s Merseyside Trades Union (TU) Education Department will also be based at the campus, continuing to provide and develop programmes in industrial relations and TU Education, working in partnership with the TUC and the many Trades Unions the College works with through its Merseyside Trades Union Centre. 

The campus for continuing professional development will support both industrial and service sector organisations to expand and develop their competitive edge as we emerge from the impact of the pandemic. Employers will also be able to benefit from the cost-effective recruitment of new employees through traineeships and apprenticeship programmes that equip local people with skills for work.

To fully embrace every opportunity to develop learning, the campus Bistro will be operated by Wirral Met’s young chef and culinary arts & hospitality students. Alongside the Bistro, the excellent light and space in the building will provide opportunities for arts students to display original artwork. 

Sue Higginson, Principal and CEO of Wirral Met said:

“The Government’s new Skills for Jobs White Paper places Further Education Colleges firmly at the heart of the regeneration of the communities they serve, as anchor organisations. Wirral Met College has been supporting the Wirral community for over 165 years and our ambitious plans have transformed our estate to focus upon the key industries that will ensure we are instrumental in helping to rebuild the economy, through the development of skills.

“This will ensure that we play a full and active part in helping to realise the innovative plans that Wirral Council and our Combined Authority have started to implement. I am particularly delighted that our campus for Leadership and Professional Studies sits close to Hamilton Square in Birkenhead, reflecting the professional services that it has historically provided.”

Cllr Anita Leech, Chair of Wirral Council’s Economy Regeneration & Development Committee, added:

“This is a fantastic development and illustrates Wirral Met College’s key role in the community it serves as well as being a major element of the regeneration of our borough through ensuring people in Wirral have the skills needed by employers.

“This comes at a point when Birkenhead’s regeneration is really moving forward and more and more exciting regeneration of the town is getting underway. It is also great to see a building the Council no longer requires being used to help the next generations get ready for their careers.”