Galliford Try celebrates groundbreaking ceremony at Merrist Wood College

Galliford Try's Building Southern business has celebrated the groundbreaking at the major redevelopment project at Merrist Wood College and University Centre, in Guildford.

Dignitaries participating in the ceremony, which was also complemented by a remembrance service, included Sue Sturgeon, Chair of Governors of Activate Learning, and Sallie Barker, the Mayor of Guildford, who marked the occasion with the ceremonial first dig into the ground.

Delivered on behalf of multi academy Trust, Activate Learning and the Department for Education, the £21m project will feature the construction of two new teaching blocks and a large specialist greenhouse aimed at enhancing the campus, which is known for its focus on horticulture and land-based educational programmes. The facilities will be equipped with advanced digital technologies to enable flexible course delivery.

This initiative, funded through the £1.5bn Further Education Capital Transformation Fund, aims to expand the college's curriculum and transform further education institutions to improve post-16 education.

Gavin Bridge, Managing Director for Galliford Try Building Southern, said: "This event marked the start of our collective journey towards enhancing education at Merrist Wood College. We are excited to work alongside Activate Learning and our partners to bring state-of-the-art facilities to life, ensuring that our community, staff, and students have access to the resources they need to shape the future of learning."

Philip Waddup, Group Director for Property, Environment and Sustainability at Activate Learning, commented: "We're proud to collaborate with the Department for Education and Galliford Try to bring this vital project to life. The new facilities will provide the specialist industry-focused accommodation needed to support our learners' future success."