South Essex College celebrates topping out ceremony in Basildon

A topping out ceremony was held for South Essex College’s new Digital Technology Campus in Basildon town centre today.

The ceremony attended by representatives from the college, Basildon Council and contractor Morgan Sindall Construction, marked the completion of the outer shell of the building.

Offering courses such as IT, software development, IT networking,  games design and animation, the new three-storey campus is on track to be finished by July and open to students of all ages in September 2020.

The new Digital Technology Campus will enable the college to better meet the skill needs of employers both locally and regionally, providing courses that will meet employment and industry demands.

Angela O’Donoghue, Principal of South Essex College said: “We’re very excited that our vision to bring high quality education and training back into the heart of Basildon town centre is almost complete.

“Students will soon be able to access state-of-the-art digital facilities, equipping them with the skills to enter the digital technology industry – one that has seen major growth in the Thames Gateway region especially. We believe that developing a specialist provision such as this helps students to be work ready for a career in this sector and helps them to develop the networks and industry contacts that are so vital for their future.” 

Leader of Basildon Council, Cllr Gavin Callaghan said: “Today is an important milestone in the journey of Basildon town centre’s transformation and one that will bring an important contribution to the skills and training offer available to our young people.
 
“The new college is a fantastic opportunity for the borough’s young people to equip themselves with the skills that are relevant to local employers and will bring a new dimension to life in the town. 
 
“We want as many partners like South Essex College as possible – organisations that are willing to invest and help build a modern, ambitious town that can thrive into the future.”

Alister Broadberry, Area Commercial Director for Eastern Counties at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We’re pleased to be celebrating the fantastic progress that is being made on this project, which has been achieved through a close working partnership with Basildon Council, Homes England and South Essex College. 

“We’re very proud to be playing a role in delivering this exciting new addition to the town centre and the lasting impact it will have on the community.”

Previously the college, together with Basildon Council and Homes England had facilitated the relocation of the college’s old Basildon site in Nethermayne to the town centre. This also lead to the creation of 725 much needed high-quality family homes on both the former campus and immediately adjacent 33 hectares of Homes England land.

For more information about the new Basildon campus, visit www.southessex.ac.uk/new-state-of-the-art-campus-in-basildon