Digital skills and enterprise hub, The Quad, opens in Telford
New, first-class education facility developed by Telford & Wrekin Co-operative Council, Harper Adams University, Telford College and other partners.
Earlier this year, we reported on plans for an ambitious new space to bridge education to employment through tech and digital skills in the Shropshire town of Telford. The Quad has now opened it’s doors to the first intake of students.
The Quad, image courtesy of Telford & Wrekin Council
As part of the council’s wider initiative to transform the Station Quarter of the town centre, the hope is that the new site will be a catalyst for careers in applied sciences and the digital sector, hosting more than 300 students each year. The Quad will also help to retain local talent, offering learners in the south of the borough high-quality education that is more readily accessible to them than the main Telford College and Harper Adams sites in Wellington and Newport.
The Quad will offer new learning opportunities, with Telford College offering courses for up to 200 students aged 16 to 18 as well as a range of evening courses for adults. In addition, Harper Adams University will provide a series of short courses at the new site and aims to recruit students who will then study for degrees there in subjects such as applied data science, robotics, automation and mechatronics, engineering business management, and digital manufacturing.
As well as the educational facilities, The Quad also offers a new, 7,500 square feet business incubator, aimed at supporting a range of business needs to help new and growing companies to thrive. Businesses will be able to rent individual units there on a flexible basis, with training rooms and the Start Up Telford and Innovate Telford programmes also delivered from this space.
Cllr Lee Carter, Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, says: ‘We are really excited to see The Quad open in Station Quarter. After months of planning, the vision to create this outstanding education facility has now become a reality. This is just one element of the wider Station Quarter project but is all part of our commitment to build a better borough, breathe new life into some of our most historic buildings and creating new spaces for the future. Investing in Telford and Wrekin is quite literally laying foundations for the future, creating opportunities to learn new skills, secure great jobs, enjoy top cultural activities and live in an attractive place.’
Cllr Shirley Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education, Employment & Skills at the council, adds: ‘It’s wonderful to see learners from across Telford and Wrekin, starting courses at The Quad – giving them the skills and knowledge to secure future careers in different sectors. For learners living in the south of our borough, The Quad is easier to get to in Telford Town Centre and not two bus rides away from the College’s Wellington campus or Harper Adams University, which will hopefully improve their aspirations and make a big difference to their destinations. As well as giving learners of all ages the opportunity to study courses delivered by Telford College and Harper Adams University, the facility is also the perfect space to help businesses develop and flourish in Telford and Wrekin.’
Lawrence Wood, Principal and Chief Executive of Telford College, says: ‘This is a really exciting development for us. Maths and digital qualifications are a vital pathway to higher quality and better paid jobs and having a campus in the heart of the town centre makes the college more accessible than ever. Our curriculum at Station Quarter is targeted towards careers in sectors such as cybersecurity, AI, virtual and augmented reality, cloud computing, wireless technologies and 5G innovation. These are skills which local employers tell us they desperately need.’
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