The new Business Centre, opening June 2022, was created out of a dormant, and poorly used, space in one of our blocks (L).  The space was open plan and had not been used effectively in any number of configurations. 

With Peter Marsh Consulting, and their Project Managers, a plan was established to isolate this space into two rooms that would be presented in a style similar to the highest quality conference facilities expected in some of our major city Hotels.  The design brief was essentially about creating space that challenged the expectations of accommodation traditionally found in a school/college environment, and would be different in every form.

The use of full glass walls on three sides of this new room, with an additional breakout small meeting room (with excellent views of the College campus and beyond), has most certainly achieved that objective.  Effective selection of furniture allows for the formatting of the main room to be anything from traditional conference to small group work.  High quality audio-visual hardware ensures that delegates can engage fully in current teleconferencing and to the highest of standard.  

The projects management was excellent with a great stress on client engagement and participation throughout.  The project managers were very adaptive to the needs and interests of the College with the result that the outcome has exceeded expectations.  Given that the objective was to provide an environment within the College that employers would feel represented them, and the standards they may expect when attending significant national and international conferences, the completed facility more than achieves that.  Supplementary works to the local environment around it have also helped ensure the uniqueness of the accommodation within the College.    

Our summary review is that anyone attending the new Centre will be amazed and surprised that such high quality accommodation is available on the Island, and that it is bespoke to their needs as employers and members of the community. 

Testimonials

“Peter Marsh was appointed by the Solent LEP to help the Isle of Wight College and its professional team address a £2m difference between the available funds and the post tender cost packages on the College’s flagship ‘Centre of Excellence for Composites, Advanced Manufacturing and Marine’. His first priority was to clearly understand the College’s strategic priorities for this project and how it would benefit the students and employers. Peter’s comprehensive experience enabled him to quickly identify a broad range of solutions and devise a robust and structured framework for addressing the identified gap which built on the Value Engineering process that the College had commenced. With clear targets set and a timetable for action agreed, the College and their advisors were able to bring the project back within budget whilst preserving the required level of contingency to offset identified risks.  Peter’s no-nonsense approach and significant experience of working with LEPs and contractors on other projects helped us secure the funding for the project and maintain the confidence of the LEP in our combined ability to deliver.”

Debbie Lavin, Principal (to 2022), Isle of Wight College

“The Solent LEP is committed to an ambitious programme of investment to support economic growth and raise productivity levels in the Solent. Developing the areas pipeline of marine engineering skills forms an important part of our investment programme, and the Isle of Wight’s Centre of Excellence for Composite, Advanced Manufacturing and Marine is a key project for the LEP.  The LEP approached Peter Marsh Consulting to assist the College with delivery of the project.  Peter has worked effectively with the College, their advisors and the LEP’s due diligence consultant to ensure the project has a solid basis for delivery.”

Stuart Baker, Head of Local Growth, Solent LEP