Our specialist team of highly skilled professionals that deliver projects within the value band of approximately £5m have completed multiple college projects this year. This offering provides customers with a team that have a variety of experience to deliver fast-track projects across the country.
Higher and Further Education is a key sector for us. Across Willmott Dixon Group, 20% of our overall turnover is in this sector, and this is something we take pride in. Contributing to the improvements of areas where young people will be learning and developing their knowledge is rewarding for our people. The recent uptake in DfE funding into colleges has lead to capital project programmes being pursued.
We have recently secured a place on the Department for Education framework. We hold positions on both the North and South regions across two value bands, £0-6m and £12m+. Due to the value bands we hold on the framework, our team that specialises in projects that are approximately £5m, are ideally positioned to deliver these college projects efficiently. The Department for Education are currently funding refurbishments of selected colleges to create vibrant spaces that students can continue their studies in. These refurbishments are for colleges that have a need to improve the condition of their buildings. This provides Willmott Dixon Interiors with the opportunity to deliver specialist refurbishments at these colleges and create a modern space for students to enjoy. We have recently secured our first project on the £0-6m band that will be delivered by our specialist team.
Buckinghamshire College Group
We completed the refurbishment across three of Buckinghamshire College Group’s campuses; Aylesbury Campus, Wycombe Campus and Amersham Campus. At the Aylesbury campus, we created a Health & Science suite, Early Years teaching space and new digital suite. The creation of a new digital suite and teaching space was also successfully delivered at the Amersham campus. At the Wycombe campus, we created a Health & Science suite with a mock hospital ward, science laboratory, general purpose teaching space. There was also the creation of an Early Years teaching space including a kitchen mock-up and nursery space. These refurbishments enabled the College to provide T-Level courses for Digital, Education & Childcare and Health & Science.
Above: Classroom at Aylesbury Campus
Harlow College
We delivered the internal refurbishment and conversion of three blocks at Harlow College. The works for this involved a soft strip out and a change to floor layouts, alterations to mechanical and electrical work, new fire alarm systems, flooring, and decoration. Additional floor space required new mezzanine to be created with profiled steel decking on a steel frame with additional concrete foundation pads. This refurbishment provides the college with a modern space to support their new T-Level courses, including a specialist facility for nursing courses.
Above: Classroom at Harlow College
Havant and South Downs College
After two successful projects at Havant and South Downs College, they appointed Willmott Dixon Interiors to refurbish the 1st floor at their Waterlooville campus. This provided the college with teaching spaces, collaboration spaces, breakout spaces and a reception area. The space will be used to support the teaching of T-Levels to students and provides a vibrant and modern space for the college.
Above: Classroom at Havant and South Downs College
Providing wider support to the colleges is of greatest importance for us. Making an impact on the community is vital for us to ensure we are not only providing the college with a modern space, but also upskilling and helping the surrounding area as well. Career sessions in local schools and colleges themselves are carried out by our team to improve the knowledge students have on employability and the construction industry.
Sustainability is at the heart of our business. Throughout our refurbishment of colleges, we work to ensure we are improving the sustainability of the building and biodiversity in the surrounding areas. Reducing carbon, water and waste are among the top priorities on each of our sites to ensure we are making a positive impact on the environment.
As technology advances, we implement innovations into our ways of working through digital construction. Using software such as BIM, we create visualisations of the project digitally to enhance the planning process for the refurbishments and make the projects more efficient.
Our work on colleges delivers a positive impact on students and education facilities. We refurbish colleges to provide them with a new, modern area to help support education courses and develop students. A key outcome of our work with colleges is transforming their spaces to facilitate T-Level courses, which allow students to learn in a practical manner. Collaboration is a priority for colleges to enable students to have areas to work together to help each other on their course, and areas of socialisation for the individuals. Our refurbishments facilitate these key aspects and convert college areas into modern spaces.
To view more of our education projects, click here.