Proposals for a new multi-million pound digital skills and innovation hub in Nuneaton have taken another step forward.
The board of North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College has agreed to progress with plans to operate a state-of-the-art digital skills and innovation centre as part of proposals to create a new campus in Abbey Street.
The final proposals from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, and its strategic development partner Queensberry, are expected to be discussed by the authority's planning committee in late summer.
As part of the project, the college's fine dining restaurant would be transferred from its present site in Hinckley Road to Abbey Street where members of the public will be able to enjoy meals and snacks throughout the day while students put their catering and hospitality skills into practice.
The three-storey building will also focus on providing access to digital skills training and support for the hospitality sector as well as having business facilities for entrepreneurs and those wanting to set-up their own business. There will also be a shared workspace, meeting and exhibition space.
Tom Hamilton-Dick, deputy principal for curriculum and innovation at North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, said: "Our fine dining restaurant has won multiple national awards for the standard of its teaching and this training restaurant will give diners the chance to see into the kitchens and watch their food being prepared.
"It will provide students with a wonderful chance to learn the skills needed in the catering and hospitality industry in a brand new building as well as having teaching spaces for students.
"The demand for digital skills courses is increasing as more people are working from home or from retailers who want to develop their IT skills as their business has diversified, and this will provide an opportunity to deliver on-site courses since not everyone has access to high-quality technology at home.
"The centre will also provide space and the facilities to support people with their own micro or small business as well as those who have an idea to set-up a business.
"It is an amazing opportunity for current and future students and is a really good example of collaboration between education and a local authority."
The digital skills and innovation centre, which is expected to open in 2024, is part of the wider Abbey Street regeneration scheme which involves creating a hotel, new buildings for leisure operators, a food hall and a multi-storey car-park.
The £8 million funding has been secured from the Government's Towns Fund and Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council.
Councillor Kris Wilson, leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, said: "This exciting development is just part of our ambitious plans for a new-look Abbey Street at the heart of a revitalised town centre. This will help ensure that Nuneaton town centre plays its part in ensuring our borough is a great place to live, work and visit."
Rob Hughes, senior development manager at Queensberry, added: "It's fantastic to see plans for a new college campus being brought forward - it will be an integral part of Nuneaton town centre.
"Education facilities are one of the new uses driving the national regeneration agenda and it's great that the college will provide a mix of online and digital courses as well as training in catering and hospitality. This will really complement the mix of uses that are being brought to the Abbey Street development."
