£3 million business centre opens

A £3 million state-of-the-art business education centre has been officially opened at Warrington.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu performed the ceremony at the Padgate campus of the University of Chester, accompanied by other distinguished guests including Hilary Tucker, former principal of Warrington Collegiate, after who the building is named.
Signalling one of the latest stages of the ongoing multi-million pound campus redevelopment, the Tucker Building, which houses the campus’ business centre, has been majority funded by the North West Development Agency (NWDA), which contributed just over 80 per cent of the cost.
Boasting the most up-to-date computing equipment, the building is home to excellent teaching facilities for students studying courses within the Faculties of Business, Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Applied and Health Sciences and Social Science. It also provides a focal point for businesses in Warrington and the sub-region, offering a wide variety of support services.
During his visit, the Archbishop was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Theology from the University, in recognition of his work with the Church of England furthering education and international development.
The University’s Public Orator, Professor Chris Walsh, outlined the outstanding contributions the Archbishop has made.
He said: “Dr Sentamu has used his position to speak out powerfully on a range of moral, social and political issues. The plight of young people, the importance of the family, freedom from slavery, and conflicts abroad are causes particularly close to his heart.”
As well as meeting members of staff, including representatives from the Business School, the Archbishop also made a tour of the impressive three-storey building.
Opening the building, Dr Sentamu, said: “This is a building worthy of Grand Designs, with its magnificent use of building material and its green eco-friendly features.
“It is a Grand Design both in the physical expression of the building itself, and also in the vision for the development of business and education, hand in hand with the regeneration and growth in this region.”
Reinforcing the University’s established relationship with the commercial world, the Tucker Building not only caters for students and learners at the Warrington campus, but also provides business expertise to help support the economic development of companies in the region.
It is also home to the Learning and Enterprise Centre (LEC) which engages with both the business community and local residents by offering professional development courses that enhance work-place progression and employability.
University Vica-Chancellor Professor Tim Wheeler said: “The Tucker Building forms part of a major investment programme the university has undertaken at the Warrington campus, which has seen £12 million being injected into the site over a period of five years.
“The development complements the work already carried out, including the extension to the Library and Learning Resource Centre, the North West Media Centre, and improvements to the student refectory and sports facilities.”
Picture: Dr Sentamu (centre), with (left to right): Dr Irina Axcell, the Mayoress of Warrington; Coun Brian Axcell, the Mayor of Warrington; Hilary Tucker; Dr Lis Smith; and Professor Tim Wheeler.