Boston College has officially opened its new campus in Horncastle which will provide part-time daytime and evening courses for adults aged 19 and over.
Located on Mareham Road in the town, alongside the new Public Sector Hub which is home to East Lindsey District Council and partner organisations, the campus will allow Boston College to provide local residents with better access to quality learning provision and local workforce development opportunities.
Simon Telfer, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP's Employment and Skills Advisory Panel, said: “I'm extremely proud that the Greater Lincolnshire LEP was able to contribute over £1.2 million to this project from the Government’s Getting Building Fund.
“The new campus has been created to address the lack of post-16 education provision in Horncastle and will make it easier for people to access training locally.
“It's a significant day for Horncastle and I was honoured to represent the LEP at the opening ceremony.”
Councillor Brian Burbidge, Mayor of Horncastle Town Council, officially opened the campus in the presence of members of East Lindsey District Council, the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, local businesses and Boston College staff and governors.
“This site has had a long involvement in education, and it’s really pleasing to see it continue into the future,” said Councillor Burbidge.
“I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for both the town and East Lindsey, and I hope the community engage and access the learning options available.”
Claire Foster, Principal and CEO of Boston College, said, “Boston College is proud to work in collaboration with the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership to provide an inspiring new learning space in the heart of Horncastle.
“The Greater Lincolnshire LEP's investment in education has meant that the town now has a brilliant facility for adult and community learning, and we look forward to welcoming people here to learn and grow.”
The learning space is based on the ground floor of the new building and includes three classrooms, a digital innovation computed-based classroom and a staff room.
After the official opening, members of the local community toured the facilities and spoke to college staff about the courses available at the new campus.
Course provision has been linked to employers and opportunities within Horncastle to provide the best potential progression routes. Courses available include Bookkeeping AAT Certificate Level 2, Personal Career Planning and Job Seeking, Confidence and Assertiveness, and ESOL – Speaking and Listening.
New courses will be introduced throughout the year to tailor the provision to the requirements of the local economy.
The new campus will also benefit East Lindsey businesses by providing readily available training to meet skills needs, helping them to grow and increase productivity.
In addition, employers will have access to a pool of talented individuals with valuable skills they need to help them develop and boost the local economy.
To find out more information about Boston College Horncastle Campus and a full course listing, please visit www.boston.ac.uk.
