Learning campus to open on Midland Met hospital site
A major new learning campus is set to open on the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital site, marking a significant milestone in the regeneration of Smethwick and the wider Sandwell area.
The campus will expand access to education, training, and professional development for residents of all ages, helping local people gain the skills needed for future careers in a rapidly changing economy.
Developed through a partnership between Sandwell and West Brimingham NHS Trust and its Learning Works, Sandwell College, the University of Wolverhampton, Aston University, and Sandwell Council the learning campus will provide access to entry-level learning through to Level 7 programmes, with long-term ambitions to expand advanced study opportunities across the community.
The project has been made possible through significant investment from the Towns Fund, and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
This funding has enabled the creation of a modern, flexible learning environment designed around the needs of local residents and employers.
Group chief executive of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust and Dudley Group Foundation NHS Trust Diane Wake said: “The Learning Campus forms a cornerstone of the wider regeneration of the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital site.
“By attracting students, staff, and investment, it will stimulate new economic activity, support local industries, and help attract new employers to the area.
“The development reinforces the West Midlands’ position as a region of innovation, talent, and opportunity.”
Councillor Uddin for the Towns Fund programme said: “The Midland Met Learning Campus is an exciting milestone for children, young people, and families in Sandwell.
“By offering advanced healthcare education – up to Level 7 – right next to the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, the campus opens doors to real career pathways in health and care.
“Families will benefit from services that support wellbeing, while students can gain the knowledge and skills to make a real difference in our community’s health. This is a place where learning meets care, and every child and family can thrive.
“The Learning Campus is a flagship example of how Towns Fund investment is helping to level up communities across the country.
“By supporting the creation of a modern, flexible learning environment, we are enabling local people to access high-quality education and training close to home, while helping to drive economic growth and regeneration in Smethwick and Sandwell.”
As a central part of the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital site development, the Learning Campus will support the local health and care workforce, provide new opportunities for collaboration with industry, and help prepare the region for future skills demands.
It will serve as a hub for lifelong learning, supporting residents at every stage of their education and career journey.
Tony Shenton, regional director for Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, said: “We are proud to have played a part in delivering this new learning campus.
“Creating a modern, flexible teaching environment that will be an incredible hub for learning, innovation, community growth and regeneration for Sandwell and the wider West Midlands.”
Pictured: Students from Sandwell College
