Uxbridge College officially opened its new £6.2m development at a ceremony on Thursday November 7.

The facilities at the Uxbridge campus in Park Road have seen the original refectory modernised and doubled in size, new plumbing workshops built, and additional classrooms and offices added for both engineering and health and social care teaching. The work has also freed up space in other parts of the college which is now used by the Learning Centre.

The celebration, which took place in the new refectory area – named The Exchange – was attended by guests including: The Mayor and Mayoress of Hillingdon Cllr Allan and Mrs Lynne Kauffman; Chancellor of Brunel University Sir Richard Sykes, who officially opened the new building, and Cllr Douglas Mills, Cabinet Member for Community, Commerce and Regeneration for the London Borough of Hillingdon (LBH).

LBH has generously supported funding for the new plumbing workshops, which include a series of ‘mini bathrooms’ where students can learn practical skills. The development by contractors SDC was also supported with £2m from the Skills Funding Agency, with the remaining costs met through college funds.

A host of partners and employers who work with the college attended the event, where the college’s Employer Champions were also honoured for their work. The employers were welcomed by Lorraine Collins, Executive Director of Enterprise and Development, and Sir Richard presented each of them with a certificate of recognition. Employer Champions work with the college supporting students and the college as a whole with a range of contributions to training and community development.

Laraine Smith OBE, Principal, also launched a new initiative to raise funds so support students leaving care, for instance to provide grants for equipment such as laptop computer. The ‘Make a Difference’ crowd funding website will enable donors to make pledges online, with the money only taken when the £5,000 target is reached.

Ms Smith said: “Students and staff alike are thrilled to be able to enjoy this wonderful environment which has enabled us to expand our STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum further, including moving into the brand new area of plumbing and extending our work further in the sustainable technologies.

“I would particularly like to thank the London Borough of Hillingdon for assisting us in identifying the skills that will benefit local economic growth and supporting us with practical help to do so.

“I feel sure that these new facilities at Uxbridge College will enable us to keep fit for the future and support our students as individuals, and our community and economy as a whole, in the way which is needed.”

Cllr Kauffman and Sir Richard also spoke at the event, offering their support and congratulations to the college.

• The web address for donations to Make a Difference is Igg.me/at/uxbridgecollege Employer Champions honoured at the event were: Courtwood Car Services Metro Bank Apollo Fire Detectors Ltd Parkfield Nursing Home Cox Costello and Horne International Visual Ltd DASH (Disability Charity) Collette World Wide Travel The Clancy Group General Mills Rackspace Hale Hamilton (Valves )Ltd