Barrow campus sign of change for higher education ‘cold spot’

Overlooking Buccleuch Dock, the steel skeleton of the campus building has been completed. 

Funded by the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal, which secured £25 million from the Government's Towns Fund in 2021 for seven projects designed to help Barrow to thrive for generations, work is now progressing to make the two-storey building water and weather tight.

The construction phase of this strategically significant project is being carried out by Caddick Construction Group. Current expectations are for construction to be completed in early 2025. 

The first academic programmes being delivered from September 2025 will be: 

• BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with Integrated Foundation Year (subject to validation); 
• BSc (Hons) Computer Science (students will split time between University of Cumbria’s Lancaster and Barrow campuses); 
• BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing (providing teaching and placements in and around Barrow).

The update comes as the University of Cumbria is in attendance at the Barrow Jobs and Skills Fair today (7 Oct, 9am-6pm) at Forum 28 in Barrow, offering study skills talks throughout the day.

Whilst the University of Cumbria campus takes shape, Barrovian and Professor of Practice Jackie Arnold MBE becomes a strategic advisor to the university’s Vice Chancellor's Executive. 

Jackie will assist the university as it develops its footprint in the region to build key partnerships within Barrow and the surrounding area. This will involve working with civic and employer partners to invest and grow Barrow and Furness for generations to come, in line with nationally held ambitions and investments. 

With over 40 years’ experience in business and financial management, Jackie is a well-known figure. She held several senior positions with BAE Systems and earlier this year she became the first female chair of The Cumberland. Jackie is also an Honorary Fellow of the university, awarded in 2022, and previously served as Pro Vice Chancellor (Region and Employer Engagement) as part of the university executive team. 

Jackie said: “Raised and educated in Barrow, I’m passionate about my home town and proud to be supporting the university at this exciting stage of its own development and that of the town. 

“The presence of a university in the town will give local students the opportunity to progress to higher education and experience a university life and the benefits this presents; all without the need to travel, making it more affordable and easier to fit in with commitments at home.” 

She added: “The campus is a visual symbol of the start of Barrow’s journey to becoming a university town. An ambition that will take time with co-ordinated support from many parties, I know that the University of Cumbria, through its focus on people, place and partnerships, is dedicated to working collaboratively and forming meaningful and impactful relationships that will support the wider drive that aims to meet Barrow’s current and future skills and employer needs.” 

As part of the university’s long-term plan to grow higher education for and in Barrow, recruitment will build upon the existing delivery by University of Cumbria to BAE Systems employees. It will also welcome open applications from prospective learners wishing to undertake undergraduate studies, via the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). 

Initial programmes have been aligned to identified areas of skills need, with plans to build the portfolio offer available over time. Each will evolve and be designed through collaboration with employers and partners to meet sector and higher-level skills needs - locally, regionally and nationally.  

Course development builds upon the expertise and success of existing University of Cumbria programmes in fields including Project Management, Chartered Management and Degree Apprenticeships. 

Professor Brian Webster-Henderson OBE, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Cumbria said: "Barrow-in-Furness has an important role in the nation’s defence and energy infrastructure and as Cumbria’s university we, with our existing partners including BAE Systems, are well placed to support this by growing Barrow’s broader skills, productivity, and economic landscape. Creating opportunities, we will do this by providing new, inclusive and accessible programmes of study and progression routes through to higher education, all of which will impact on place and people for generations to come. 

“Our university was formed to delivery higher education and high-level skills to, for and from Cumbria, and we are top in the North West for graduates in work or further study 15 months after graduation. We already achieve this through a myriad of different programmes and routes and our growing presence and footprint in Barrow will enable these opportunities to be opened up to learners who live, work and choose to study here.” 

He added: “Modern universities like Cumbria make up an important part of the UK’s higher education sector, educating more than a million students every year. Anchored in communities, universities like ours are proud to pioneer teaching and learning that improves access to education for people from all walks of life whilst identifying ways to address skills gaps and grow the workforce, including public services.” 

The University of Cumbria campus, situated on Buccleuch Dock Road, Barrow Island, will have dedicated engineering learning labs, teaching rooms, digital library facilities, catering options, car parking and cycle store.   

Neighbouring the BAE Systems’ Submarine Academy for Skills and Knowledge (SASK) building, the campus is a key part of the Barrow Learning Quarter - the largest of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal schemes. 

Steve Cole, CIO & Operational Improvement Director at BAE Systems Maritime and Land, and Chair of the Brilliant Barrow Town Deal Board, said: "It is fantastic to see the university campus in Buccleuch Dock Road rising up, ready to soon open up new and exciting opportunities in Barrow.

 "All the projects funded through the Brilliant Barrow programme will significantly boost access to education, training and skills, improve levels of health and wellbeing overall and maximise the town’s considerable economic strengths and potential - with the Learning Quarter playing a key role in meeting those goals. I can't wait to see this campus open and inspiring learners, making Barrow a university town with a prosperous and exciting future ahead."

Janet Garner, Future Workforce Director at BAE Systems, said: “The new university campus will be a welcome addition to the town and BAE Systems is proud to be supporting the new Barrow Learning Quarter. It's great to see how our town is evolving, especially in the higher education space. 

"We are working in partnership with the University of Cumbria, Westmorland and Furness Council and the newly formed Team Barrow to make Barrow a thriving town and a great place to live, work and play." 

• Learn more about the University of Cumbria Barrow campus at www.cumbria.ac.uk/barrow. 

VIDEO: University of Cumbria 'Shaping the Future of Barrow'

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