Wirral Met Celebrates 10 Years of Transforming Lives at Wirral Waters Campus

Wirral Met College welcomed employers, partners, students, alumni and community stakeholders to its Wirral Waters Campus this month to celebrate ten years since the campus first opened its doors.

The special anniversary event brought together representatives from Peel Waters, local councillors, construction employers, local school leaders, staff and students to reflect on a decade of success and look ahead to the future of skills development across the Liverpool City Region.

The first development to be built at Wirral Waters

Guests heard how the campus has played a significant role in supporting the growth of the construction sector over the past ten years, providing thousands of learners with the skills, knowledge and industry experience needed to progress into successful careers.

The event began with a welcome from Gill Banks, Principal and CEO of Wirral Met College, who highlighted the impact the campus has had on learners, employers and the wider community since opening. Attendees also learned about the history of the campus and the vision behind its creation, including how students were involved in the development of the building itself. The campus was established through a unique partnership with Peel Waters, it was the first development to be built at Wirral Waters and has since become a key hub for construction and technical education in the region.

Over the last decade, the campus has achieved some remarkable milestones, including:

Supporting 12,700 students to take their next step in education and employment
Helping 4,370 adult learners to upskill, retrain and build confidence at every stage of life
Training 1,775 apprentices, developing real skills for real careers with local employers
Building partnerships with 533 employers to help meet industry skills needs

Impact in our communities

The impact of Wirral Met College can be seen clearly in the local community. Students from the Wirral Waters campus have delivered projects that demonstrate not only technical skills but real social value. Highlights include:

Building a 10ft handmade boat for the Wirral Viking Festival

Recycling pallets to create outdoor seating for care home residents

Building birdboxes and bug hotels for the peaceful woodland area for staff, patients and visitors at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

Crafting monuments for the Hamilton Remembrance Parade

St Vincent’s Charity – The students successfully navigated working around a Grade listed building to install an eco water system for the community to use in the garden that has been created as a safe space

Heswall Primary School – Students participated in a project to recycle wooden pallets into school playground items

Horse Sense Wirral – The students helped to make and install new shelters for the animal charity

And if the bid is successful students will be going to South Africa next year to support construction of a conservation project.

These activities reflect Wirral Met College’s core values of ambition, resilience, inclusivity, empowerment and accountability along with an unwavering commitment for the highest standards and to make a difference.

Richard Mawdsley, Development Director at Peel Waters, shared exciting plans for the next phase of the wider Wirral Waters regeneration project, giving guests an insight into future developments and the opportunities they will create for local people and businesses.

The event also provided valuable networking opportunities, allowing current students to connect directly with local employers and industry professionals. These conversations helped showcase the strong relationships the College has built with industry and demonstrated how employer partnerships continue to enhance the student experience.

As guests toured the campus and shared memories from the last ten years, the event highlighted the lasting impact of the partnership between Wirral Met College and Peel Waters, and the important role the campus continues to play in developing the skilled workforce needed for the future.

The strength of partnership, the impact of opportunity and the power of education

Speaking at the event, Gill Banks, Principal and CEO of Wirral Met College said: “From the outset, our students have not been observers of regeneration, they have been active contributors. The supported the build of this campus and projects such as Millers Quay, and they continue to contribute to developments across Wirral Waters, inclusive Twelve Quays and the new Sainsbury’s site.

“As we reflect on the last 10 years, we see the strength of partnership, the impact of opportunity and the power of education to transform lives and places. Wirral Waters is a testament to what can be achieved when those come together. As an anchor institution, we are proud of our role, our partnerships and excited about what comes next.”

As Wirral Waters enters its next chapter of regeneration and growth, Wirral Met College remains committed to equipping students with the skills, experience and opportunities needed to succeed in the construction industry and beyond.

As Wirral Waters looks ahead to its next chapter, Wirral Met College remains committed to developing the skilled workforce that will help shape its future.

If you’re an employer and would like to work with Wirral Met College visit here.