Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks Official Start of Construction for the New Stanmore College 

Stanmore College Principal Annette Cast, Patrick Heisel from the Department for Education, Mayor of Harrow Salim Chowdhury, and Phillippa Prongué, Managing Director for London and the South East at Bouygues UK

Bouygues UK and Stanmore College hosted a well-attended Groundbreaking ceremony on 12 September to celebrate the start of construction of the new college. Distinguished guests, including the Mayor of Harrow Salim Chowdhury, London Borough of Harrow Deputy Leader Marilyn Ashton and Councillor Zak Wagman, as well as representatives from Harrow Council and The Department for Education (DfE) attended the ceremony, highlighting the significance of this transformative project. 

Bouygues UK has been appointed by the DfE to undertake the construction of the new Stanmore College under the CF21 Framework. Funded by the DfE’s Further Education Improvement Programme, the project involves the reconfiguration of the college’s existing site, replacing four outdated buildings with four state-of-the-art new builds. The construction is set to be completed by summer 2027. 

Bouygues UK brings a proven track record of delivering high-quality, sustainable, and inspiring learning environments. Utilising its standardised ‘kit of parts’ approach for the build, the contractor aims to integrate net-zero principles to ensure flexibility, affordability, sustainability, reduced ongoing maintenance, and certainty of price and programme. 

In alignment with their commitment to the education sector, Bouygues UK will induct its first cohort of T Level students into Design Surveying and Planning internships. Developed in collaboration with the social enterprise Class Of Your Own, these internships are part of the award-winning “Design Engineer Construct!” learning programme, which immerses future professionals in cutting-edge projects. 

Phillippa Prongué, Managing Director for London and the South East at Bouygues UK, expressed her enthusiasm for the project in her welcome speech:

We’re excited to reach this milestone and be part of this important project for the DfE. The new facility will transform the campus and provide a great learning environment for future students. Our approach will ensure that the build is both sustainable and adaptable, meeting the educational needs of today while being mindful of future demands. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will have on the local community.

Stanmore College Principal, Annette Cast, also shared her vision:

Stanmore College will provide a state-of-the-art inclusive learning campus in the heart of the Stanmore community that will ensure all local people can benefit from the best possible education and training to enable them to achieve the best employability skills.   

The College will be an educational hub providing a unique educational destination for local people to acquire the relevant skills, training and education to support them to access and build their career ambitions. 

The learning campus will be a flexible and accessible place where staff, students, employers and stake holders can gather, interrogate, learn, gain skills and progress as well as become a lifetime member of an inclusive learning community.

 The Mayor of Harrow, Salim Chowdhury stated that:  

Stanmore College has always been a cornerstone in the community.  Redevelopment will enhance in that role and will finally place the College in the heart of Stanmore and beyond.

The groundbreaking event marks a significant milestone in the journey towards creating a cutting-edge educational environment at Stanmore College, underscoring the collaborative efforts and shared commitment of all stakeholders involved.