A £22.3MILLION redevelopment of Scotland's oldest further education college has got under way.
A £22.3MILLION redevelopment of Scotland's oldest further education college has got under way.
Coatbridge College has been given the cash as part of a government scheme to safeguard Scottish construction and engineering jobs.
The funding will be used to improve access to the main building, particularly for students with disabilities.
Students will also benefit from a range of new facilities including an internet café, new seating areas and improved access to student services and the learning resource centre. An atrium between the south and north buildings will also be created, forming a new entrance.
The single-campus college will relocate to Strathclyde Business Park while the redevelopment work is carried out.
Coatbridge employs 300 staff and has 7000 students and will occupy Duart House, the park's flagship office building, from August.
The institution was founded as a technical school in 1891 evolving from the traditional Coatbridge Technical School which supported Lanarkshire's mining and steel industries.
With the decline of heavy industries the college has now evolved to offer a range of other courses including science, beauty therapy, automotive engineering or childcare.
The work is being carried out as a result of an accelerated capital spending package announced by the Scottish Government.
The funding, which includes £20m from the Scottish Funding Council and £2.3m from the college, means the work is starting a year earlier than planned, with an estimated completion date of January 2011.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, visited the college to take part in an official sod cutting ceremony.
She said: "Colleges like Coatbridge have a vital role to play in ensuring our people have access to the right skills and training they need to get into work, stay in work and further their careers so that they can make a full contribution to Scotland's economic recovery when the time comes.
"When times are hard people look to our colleges to learn new skills or engage in learning as an alternative to unemployment.
"The role of Government is to do all we can to support colleges in that task and the redevelopment work at Coatbridge is a clear indication of that commitment."
John Gray, Chairman of the Board of Management for Coatbridge College, said: "This major investment in our college will provide the people of Lanarkshire and beyond with a first class fully accessible campus fit for the 21st Century."
n See next week's Evening Times for more university graduations. On Tuesday we have the RSAMD results and on Wednesday and Thursday more from the University of the West of Scotland.
