Lindum is building a £2.2m extension to New College Stamford’s Borderville Sports Centre.

The work includes creating six additional classrooms, a specialist sports laboratory and a fitness studio.

Once complete, the College will be able to deliver ten extra qualifications, including six university level qualifications and Higher Apprenticeships in Health and Social Care.

The project is jointly funded by New College Stamford and the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and is on track to open to students in January 2021.

Lindum Peterborough is delivering the scheme after being awarded the contract through a competitive tender last year.

General Manager of Lindum Peterborough Darren King said work on the project was going very well.

“As a construction company we are acutely aware of the skills shortage in the local economy. We are also a home-grown Lincolnshire business and we have offices in Peterborough, less than 20 miles from the site. For these reasons it’s fantastic to be involved with a project that will leave a legacy beyond the completion of the building.

“We have previously worked closely with Peterborough Regional College and we have developed a good relationship with New College Stamford during the short time we’ve been here. We hope that successful completion of this building will lead to further partnerships in future.”

Borderville Sports Centre is a shared enterprise between New College Stamford and Stamford Football Club. Since opening in September 2014, it has become a hub for the community. It hosts many local sports clubs including Stamford Athletic Football Club.

The extension will enable the college to accommodate growing student numbers and help address local skills gaps. Local businesses will help to curate the college curriculum and develop learning options that meet the needs of local employers.

The centre will also be home to the Air and Defence Career College which is run in partnership Royal Air Force to deliver training and experiences to students wishing to join the RAF.

College Principal Janet Meenaghan said: “Stamford College is really pleased to see these plans coming to life. We’re very eager to see the project boost Stamford’s educational and fitness offer further and look forward to watching our students enjoy the new facilities.”

The project is in keeping with Greater Lincolnshire’s Local Industrial Strategy, as it will help to support economic growth and increase productivity through high quality technical education.

Clare Hughes, Skills Manager at the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “”The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is delighted to be supporting this exciting development with £1.12m of grant funding.

“The scheme will not only deliver new training courses for local students to help them prepare for work, and an apprenticeship programme focused on sports, public services health and social care, it will also provide much needed dedicated training space for our defence sector.”

To mark construction progress, Grantham and Stamford MP, Gareth Davies, visited site to see how the project was coming together.

He said: “The Borderville project offers an exciting new investment to Stamford and I am pleased to see the progress that has been made on site. It will no doubt offer an excellent return to the people of Stamford, providing outstanding educational facilities to students and enhanced health and fitness benefits to the community. I am excited to watch the project take shape and fulfil its potential here in Stamford.”

Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Simon Clarke MP also added: “We want to get building to help fuel our economic recovery, improve our infrastructure and create the jobs we need to get communities back on their feet.

“That is why I am delighted to see work is now underway at Stamford College’s Borderville Sports Centre.”