In pictures: Celebrations launch university's new Telford centre

Now the University of Wolverhampton's new centre at Telford's multi-million pound Southwater complex has been officially launched.

Celebrations were held on the top level of the Southwater One building – where the new University Centre Telford is based – yesterday to mark the occasion.

The new facilities came about after an agreement was struck between officials at Telford & Wrekin Council, the university and Telford Collage of Arts and Technology.

The first group of students arrived at their new home on the top floor of Southwater One in April.

A range of courses are on offer for students, including event management, business and health and social care. There is also an advice and information centre for prospective students and a business support function.

The new university will be in competition with University Centre Shrewsbury, a venture launched by the University of Chester which is running courses from buildings in Shrewsbury town centre such as the Guildhall and Rowley's House.

The University of Wolverhampton has had a presence in Telford for 20 years at its campus in Priorslee. It has also worked with TCAT since 1997.

The new centre will offer higher education for existing TCAT students including short courses, taster courses and lectures.

Business representatives from across the county and representatives of all the bodies involved attended the launch in Telford yesterday inside the centre, which includes computer, research and classroom facilities.

Professor Geoff Layer, vice-chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, said: "It is quite breathtaking to see how this floor has transformed since I was here a few months ago."

Jon Elsmore, Dean of Students at University of Wolverhampton, said: "University Centre Telford opened in April, but we are holding the launch in October because almost to the day – on October 8 last year – a group came to this empty space to look at and conceive what it might look like."

Councillor Kuldip Sahota, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, also welcomed official unveiling of the centre at yesterday's launch. Chris Scott, principal at TCAT, said it would provide many people from Telford a chance to study higher education without having to travel to Wolverhampton or Birmingham.

He said: "We are thrilled that at last we have a university centre here in Telford."

TCAT will teach its HND event management, foundation degree art and HNC in business at the new centre.

Further courses that started from September include part of a foundation degree in health and social care, and some introductory tasters to higher education, all being delivered by TCAT.

It comes following an announcement in August that the University of Wolverhampton will spend almost £500,000 on upgrading laboratories and equipment at its Telford campus in Priorslee as part of a plan to improve its engineering courses.

The university hoped to have the upgrades at Priorslee complete by the start of this academic year.

The campus already has rooms for 400 students and a lecture theatre which can hold 300.

Now existing laboratories and workshops will be refurbished and new engineering laboratories will be created to support engineering courses.

This will also enable students to take part in extra-curricular activities.