High profile alumni from Bradford College are being urged to sponsor some space in the new state of the art £50million new build due to be completed next year as bosses reveal they are hoping for a member of the Royal Family to open the new facility.

Building works on the massive redevelopment are on target and now College bosses want former students, local businesses, large or small, and current students to sponsor a floor, a room, an area such as the new restaurant, or even a glass etching or a brick, to make the space more sustainable and create a sense of ownership.

Former alumni who attended Bradford College include world famous artist David Hockney, Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe, political campaigner Alice Mahon, composer Nick Parkin, musician Brendan Croker and television presenter Colin Wolfenden.

It is hoped a Royal, such as Princess Anne, may cut the ribbon to officially open the new building.

The college is due to open in September, 2014 after work finishes the month before. It will contain 90 classrooms, four Higher Education lecture rooms, nine science labs and four health and beauty salons.

Jain Camfield, the head of marketing and corporate communication at the College, said: “We are looking to people to see if they want a long lasting relationship with the college.

“We could be looking at a glass wall or brick with someone’s name on.

“We are looking at those who work with us and they would be key to continuing that association.

“If David Hockney felt he could associate himself with the college where he started his career, as he already has a Hockney room here, that would be great.

“The Whistling Woods Film School association is key to this. We are also looking for someone special and are working to get a Royal to open it. That would be lovely if we could. Someone like Princess Anne if we could attract that kind of person that would be great.

“The new build is presenting us with a unique opportunity giving us the tools where we can become highly competitive.

“Linking up with local businesses opens us up to the local community and we could hold events here such as worldwide conferences.

“Where else would you go in Bradford to hold or host something like that?”

The college has also opened up a competition to staff and students to rename the new build, loosely known as the City Centre Campus, with the competition closing on September 27. The name will be revealed on October 14.