University unveils ambitious major investment plan

The University of Wolverhampton has announced details of a £250m plan to invest in education, training and to support economic growth.

The multi-million pound plan outlines how the University aims to strengthen and grow over the next three to five years and beyond and marks the most significant and ambitious investment programme the institution has embarked on.

The “Our Vision, Your Opportunity” programme will include investment in new buildings, courses, learning and teaching, research, skills and training with the aim to enhance the experience for students, to increase the skill-base in the region, to help create jobs and to drive and support economic regeneration.

Flagship projects already agreed as part of the plan include the University’s new £18m Business School, due to open in October, a £12m investment into Engineering courses and facilities in Telford and Wolverhampton and the £65m jointly-funded redevelopment of the Springfield Brewery site in the city, to create a construction and built environment super-campus.

Further plans are currently being developed across the University, which will include creating new academic subject areas, investing further in research and supporting new sites for business enterprise and start-ups.

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, said: “As a University we are in a position of unparalleled strength.

“We have more students than ever, with more gaining degrees, our research is at its highest ever-level with all areas having world class aspects, our business engagement is at its highest ever level, graduate employment rates booming (94%) and our learning and teaching has been praised and commended by the Quality Assurance Agency.

“We see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest and grow. We are confident and serious about the future and these are ambitious plans but this is also a considered approach.

“The University very much sees itself playing a pivotal role in the region, as an anchor institution shaping economic development. We will be working closely with partners within local authorities and local enterprise partnerships to make sure we maximise the investment potential we have.

“This is tremendous for the area and also for our staff and students and we want it to help raise the aspirations of the whole region.”

Stewart Towe, Chair of the Black Country LEP said: “The University of Wolverhampton’s £250m investment plan is a vote of confidence in the Black Country’s economic future and the Black Country LEP looks forward to working in partnership with the University to maximise the growth potential of this investment."

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