Hereford university NMITE receives £3.5m gift to fund campus works

Herefordshire’s New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) has received another major charitable donation as it continues its growth. 

The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust will make a grant of £3.5 million to fund the construction of a new landmark building and extensive redevelopment at NMITE’s Blackfriars campus, including a new main entrance, courtyard and remodelling of much of the interior space.

The new building will be subject to the usual planning process, but construction is expected to begin in early 2025. 

James Newby, president and chief executive of NMITE, said: “This is a wonderful recognition of the work we’ve been doing to develop NMITE and extend opportunity to young people across Herefordshire, the Marches and beyond.

“We’ll now be able to fully deliver our vision to make the NMITE site a centre for learning, industry partnerships and public discourse.

“This new investment will create a landmark building in Hereford and will greatly assist our plans for future growth.

“We believe NMITE has transformative potential in what it offers young people in Herefordshire, the boost to local economic growth, and the model it potentially offers for small university development elsewhere in the UK.”

NMITE has delivered a number of other innovative buildings, including at its Skylon campus, completed in 2022.

The campus houses NMITE’s nationally renowned Centre for Advanced Timber Technology, with multiple learning studios and workshops.

It’s used by students, researchers, industry and the community as a hub for learning and professional development.