Work has begun to build a new medical and clinical skills training college set to train thousands of professionals at the Royal Bolton Hospital site. The Bolton College of Medical Sciences (BCMS) is due to open in 2024 and its leaders say it will provide unrivalled training opportunities for aspiring and existing healthcare professionals, and is expected to serve as a transformational blueprint for training NHS staff.
The work follows the decision from Bolton Council’s planning committee to grant planning permission for the development in June. The college is a collaborative project between the University of Bolton, Bolton College, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Bolton Council.
The BCMS intends to give people a direct route into clinical healthcare employment, with a focus on practical, skills-based learning in a live hospital environment. In addition to a range of new courses and apprenticeships that will provide entry-level and higher-level skills development for those aged 16 and over, BCMS will also deliver continual professional development opportunities for existing NHS staff.
Apprenticeship provision will extend to higher and degree apprenticeships, with programmes including nursing, care leadership and management. BCMS, which was allocated £20m by the Levelling-Up Fund last year, will deliver training to approximately 3,000 learners each year. Once open, it is expected to contribute £150m to the local economy over its lifetime.
The construction phase, led by contractor Willmott Dixon, will generate a minimum local spend of £6m, largely through local employment and supply-chain expenditure. The foundations are currently being laid, with the construction of the building frame due to begin next month.
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Professor George E Holmes DL, president and vice chancellor of the University of Bolton, said: “BCMS is arguably one of the most significant projects delivered in the North West in decades. Not only will it increase employment prospects in the local area and make healthcare professions more accessible, but it will also help alleviate NHS staffing pressures in Greater Manchester and provide improved levels of care in our community. It’s brilliant to see the build underway.”
Bolton Council’s cabinet Member for regeneration, Coun Adele Warren, said: “Bolton College of Medical Sciences will be a great asset to our borough, creating jobs and giving residents the opportunity to learn skills and train for a new career. The council is proud to work closely with our partners on this development, one of many key regeneration projects being delivered across the borough.”
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