College campus unveils £285k makeover with new facilities

HELENSBURGH’S college campus has formally opened its transformed facilities.

The UHI Argyll Helensburgh centre has undergone £285,000 in improvements, including adding new rooms and being more welcoming for both students and staff.

When the building first opened in Buchanan Road in 2017, it was within weeks of the centre being taken over from Argyll and Bute Council, and the building was in need of upgrades to meet the needs of further and higher education courses.

Around 2,000 students who have taken courses at the centre, which also hosts activities for senior phase pupils at Hermitage Academy.

They also offer commercial courses to meet the needs of local businesses.

Theresa Bain, UHI Argyll centre manager for Helensburgh, said: “The breadth of organisations and individuals represented here today, gives some insight into the partnership working which we undertake, and to how many people are invested in the success of our students.

“The reaction of students and staff to the upgraded facilities has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We hope to welcome many local people through our doors to see these improvements during Big College Open Week at the end of the month.”

The building includes a new recreation space for the 93 students currently enrolled. There are also additional classrooms and private study ‘pods’, as well as an external paint job and landscaping.

Elaine Munro, acting principal of UHI Argyll, officially cut the ribbon on Monday, March 18, in front of representatives of the council, Jobcentre Plus, Skills Development Scotland, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), the Royal Navy Learning and Development Hub and local businesses.

Improvement workers started last August, led by Bridgewater Building Solutions, with gardening carried out by the college’s horticulture students and supported by Dobbies in Milngavie and Homegrown Garden Centre in Gartcosh.

Argyll and Bute Council supported the project with landscaping and repairing and painting the boundary fence.

The college is running an “open week” from Thursday, March 21 to Thursday, March 28. Their doors will be open all week to showcase what they offer, including studying options, advice on funding and student support, or even booking in for an interactive taster event.

For more information, visit www.argyll.uhi.ac.uk/openday.