Councillor Jonathan Brook, Leader at Westmorland and Furness Council

The opening of the University of Cumbria Barrow campus marks a major milestone for the Barrow community. Not only does it provide new opportunities for people in Barrow and the surrounding areas to access higher education, it also is a critical component in our ambitions for the town. It is offering courses which are aligned to local employer skills needs, meaning graduates will have the skills that are in demand locally, and it provides upskilling and reskilling opportunities for the existing local workforce. Attracting and retaining talented people with high level skills helps support growth and prosperity, and the university's presence and influence also brings vital mortality and lasting social benefits to the town. The university campus is one of the flagship projects under the Brilliant Barrow banner and it's good to see the first students starting to arrive and this really is a defining moment for the programme. Coupled with the huge investments coming through Team Barrow programme that includes multi-million pounds worth of regeneration of the town centre, these are really exciting times for the whole of Barrow and the surrounding area.