Business Secretary Vince Cable will be in Bath tomorrow to officially open the City of Bath College’s new multi-million pound building – the Roper Building.
The opening ceremony will mark the end of a 10-month construction project which has seen the College’s Kings Building demolished and replaced with a new state-of-the-art building on James Street West and Avon Street.
The Roper Building has transformed the look of the College’s city centre campus and will house a new spa and hair and beauty salons, which will be open to members of the public, plus a dedicated Higher Education centre to cater for the increasing number of HE students studying at the College.
The new building will also provide a bespoke reception area for students and visitors and bring all of the College’s Student Services together under one roof.
There is also a new College shop selling a range of products, from stationery and computer software to drinks and snacks.
The new three-storey building is a modern design and has been constructed to link with the existing Macaulay Building on the first and second floors.
Secretary of State Vince Cable will join number of other VIP guests at the opening ceremony, including Brian and Margaret Roper, after whom the new building is named. The Ropers have close ties with Bath and have a history of donating to local charities and community groups. Brian Roper MBE is co-founder of Roper Rhodes, the Bath-based bathroom furniture and accessories company.
Another guest will be Chris Berridge, a stonemasonry apprentice who trained at City of Bath College and who last year won a gold medal in the international WorldSkills competition – putting him up there with the most talented young stonemasons on the planet.
Matt Atkinson, City of Bath College Principal, said: “I’m delighted that this ambitious building project has reached a successful conclusion, being completed on time and on budget.
“The Roper Building will bring a huge range of benefits to our students and staff, and in turn provide a real boost to the city of Bath.
“We’re honoured to have Vince Cable officially opening the new building, which shows the importance the government places on the training and education of today’s young people.”
The funding for the new building has come from a number of different sources, including a £225,000 grant from the Skills Funding Agency, the sale of the College’s Westgate Building, the savings made from ending the lease on a rented building, and money from the College’s own coffers.
