Virtual sod-cutting ceremony on conference call marks start of Digital Academy work at Northampton College

A live video conference call witnessed the first spades going into the ground for a state-of-the-art Digital Academy at Northampton College.

Microsoft Teams allowed those involved in the £6.3 million project to see the sod-cutting ceremony at the Booth Lane campus during the coronavirus pandemic.

Principal Pat Brennan-Barrett said: “The Digital Academy will offer a range of courses and apprenticeships, allowing individuals to explore digital career opportunities and progress through a pathway of qualifications leading to higher education, apprenticeships and real-life job opportunities.

"We will be working closely with employers to address the skills gap in the region and ensure that our offer suits their requirements.

“Our Digital Academy courses will help to fast track students into digital careers and improve their professional IT skills.

"We offer pathways that lead to ‘in demand’ digital jobs in software development, cyber security and digital marketing.”

The Digital Academy will be based in a 1,300 square metre extension built onto the existing main college building at the Booth Lane campus.

The centre will welcome its first students from September 2021 onwards and aims to attract more than 5,000 additional learners by 2030.

Students will have access to an esports arena, a television studio, digital workshops, a Mac suite and a digital design studio plus a wide range of specialist facilities and equipment.

Northampton College will engage with the South Central Institute of Technology at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes and work with partners to develop a digital curriculum.

Half of the funding for the project has come from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership’s (SEMLEP) share of the Local Growth Fund.

Judith Barker, director of programmes and governance at SEMLEP, said: “We are delighted that the Local Growth Fund is able to support Northampton College’s new Digital Academy.

"This facility will offer a world-class centre for digital technology and provide students with improved digital skills vital to future employer needs in the South East Midlands.

"These digital skills are likely to be increasingly important to the economy as we emerge from the current crisis.”