Telford College Unveils £2 Million State-of-the-Art Library at Wellington Campus

Telford College has officially opened its newly refurbished £2 million Haybridge Library, offering students a modern and inspiring space dedicated to learning and skill development. The two-storey facility, located at the Wellington campus, features over 150 seats, bookable study rooms, collaborative areas, teaching spaces, and smart lockers equipped with laptops available for loan.

The library was formally inaugurated on Thursday in a ceremony led by student council officer Connor Oswin and bestselling author Emma Cooper, a former student of the college. Designed to maximise natural light, the space provides an ideal environment for independent study, research, group work, and reading.

Lawrence Wood, Principal and Chief Executive of Telford College, highlighted the significance of the new library as part of the college’s commitment to delivering high-quality education and training. He stated: “Within this space students can develop skills that will have a lifelong impact — learning how to verify information, learning how to analyse content for its authenticity and learning how to make a judgement on the basis of evidence, skills that are needed more than ever.”

Mr Wood also announced a £15,000 investment to establish a new college book collection, expressing enthusiasm about its growth as students and staff engage with the facility. He extended his gratitude to the government for funding support through the Capital Transformation Fund, the college’s Corporation Board for endorsing the vision, and the entire college team involved in the project.

Student Lily Randall, among the first to use the new library, praised the environment, describing it as “a great environment to study” that is “cosy and homely” and provides a “perfect quiet space” for concentration.

Emma Cooper, whose novels have been translated into seven languages, reflected on her time at the college and the importance of libraries. She commented: “I didn’t realise how important my time here was, and how much it would impact me and my life going forward. It taught me to sit closely with ideas, let them develop, and more importantly to keep going if things don’t always go right.” She emphasised that libraries are “not just about a room full of shelves, it’s about a place of tranquillity and a place that we can escape.” Cooper encouraged students to “take advantage of this facility and read widely,” adding that reading should also be about pleasure and self-discovery.

The library’s design was created by Bridgnorth-based Johnson Design Partnership, with construction carried out by SWG Construction of Welshpool. Furniture was supplied by Taskspace. Becky Johnson, architect at Johnson Design Partnership, remarked: “It’s always rewarding to work with educational clients to transform existing buildings into exciting new spaces that inspire students. At the heart of our design was the introduction of lots of natural light to create a brighter learning environment.”

Steve Gough, managing director of SWG Construction, noted the challenges of delivering the project within an active college setting, stating: “We are pleased to have delivered this project, providing a modern, flexible space to support evolving learning requirements. Delivered within a live college environment, the works were carefully phased to maintain safe and uninterrupted use of the facility throughout.”

Local councillor Shirley Reynolds, who attended the opening event, praised the facility, saying: “This is an absolutely fantastic facility. It is what a place of learning should be, and what the young people of Telford and Wrekin deserve.”