A MULTI million pound scheme to provide services for T Level students in Bradford city centre will begin this month.

The work will include a new hair and beauty training facility and “training restaurant” for hospitality students.

Bradford College have partnered with Sewell Construction for the £3.5 million investment in facilities that it hopes will improve the offer to students studying T Levels, which were introduced in 2020.

The work at Bradford College, which starts this month, will involve the remodelling of a number of areas within the College’s David Hockney Building to create a training environments.

The project is the result of a £3.5m Department for Education investment. As well as adding new lecturing spaces for business and media students, the project will also create new hair and beauty salon facilities and refurbish the college’s existing training restaurant. Both will be open to the public and used by students to hone their new skills in real-life environments.

The Telegraph & Argus has previously reported that the College has applied for planning permission to develop a new shipping container restaurant next to the David Hockney building that will be used for training.

The commercial and training salon will include a barbers, nail bar and laser room for beauty treatments. Business and admin students will have refurbished classrooms, and media students will be able to use the latest technology in a new TV studio, editing and sound suites.

The construction program will take place over the summer,minimizing disruption for students.

Pamela Sheldon, Head of Projects at Bradford College said: “Sewell Construction haven’t just helped us to create better a better campus for our students, but they’re also getting involved in our curriculum, supporting our construction students with masterclasses, work placements and industry insight days. Together, we can help young people achieve their potential, and really change lives.”

Work is expected to begin at the end of May.

Sewell Construction and Bradford College will also be working together on the refurbishment of the college’s Advanced Technology Centre, which is being revamped to help accommodate the college’s increasing demand for student places.

Envisaged as a technical alternative to the more academic A Levels, the qualification has seen a low take up nationally, as well as high dropout rates.

This has led to calls from teaching unions to reform the qualification.