STUDENTS at Wirral Met College became part of history when they stepped into their new campus - the first key landmark to open on Wirral.

The first day of term was an historic day as hundreds of students starting their new term at Wirral Met become the future workforce that will create the transformational Wirral Waters, a 30 year project by Peel Group to transform the Birkenhead dockland.

The new building, which was designed by Glenn Howell Architects, will accommodate flexible new teaching and learning approaches using digital learning technologies.

Peel’s contractor Morgan Sindall has provided a wide range of learning opportunities, with students gaining first-hand experience of putting their new skills into practice during work placements in areas such as bricklaying, plastering, mechanical and electrical trades.

The new campus, which is dedicated to developing the skills and qualifications of local people across construction and the built environment, will also be home to the college’s employer services team, which works with hundreds of employers across all sectors. 

Wirral Met principal Sue Higginson said: “It is really appropriate that the very first building to open in Wirral Waters, part of a UK Enterprise Zone, is our Wirral Waters Campus, which is dedicated to developing the education and skills that will transform our community. 

"Thanks to our partnership with Peel, Morgan Sindall and the many employers that are part of their supply chain, we have created a state of the art facility for construction and the built environment.

"Today, we added to Wirral Met’s rich history of 165 years of training local people and we look forward to continuing this for many generations to come."

The benefits to the wider Wirral Met student cohorts will continue over the coming year as horticulture students will be supporting the Forestry Commission with tree planting around the new building and, as part of the wider, Wirral Waters plans for urban landscaping. 

Other students from areas including travel, tourism and business will gain from work experience supporting the new Wirral Waters’ Visitors Centre and Arts students will be engaged in the development of public art work that will help to transform the area.