Northern Regional College's new £55 million Ballymena Campus, delivered by County L'Derry-based contractor Heron Bros, has officially opened, providing state-of-the-art facilities across 16,800m² and five storeys.

The campus, which was officially opened today by Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald, consolidates the College's provision in the town into a single modern site, designed to meet the evolving demands of vocational, technical and professional education.

Situated on the former Farm Lodge site, the campus accommodates approximately 1,800 learners annually and includes purpose-built facilities such as the Advanced Technologies Department, covering 5,000m² across the ground and first floors. This department provides specialist training in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, and Electronic Engineering, alongside Motor Vehicle and Construction Engineering, as well as essential trades including Electrical Installation, Plumbing, Carpentry, Joinery, and Bricklaying. Practical learning is further supported through a training restaurant and hair and beauty salons.

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Key architectural features include an open-plan staircase to encourage collaboration and an Innovation Zone for cross-curriculum projects and community engagement. The building also offers a Sports Zone and views across the ECOS landscape and the adjacent St Patrick's Regeneration Site.

During construction, the project provided almost 1,500 weeks of employment and training in construction-related trades, with 27 apprentices completing their training on site. Many have since secured employment with local companies, strengthening links between education and industry.

Colm McKenna, Chair of Northern Regional College's Governing Body, highlighted the contribution of Heron Bros, noting their professionalism and commitment to quality were instrumental in delivering the campus. Northern Regional College Principal Mel Higgins added that the new facility is already showing a 12% increase in full-time student numbers and represents a major investment in the future of education and skills development in the region.

Fully funded by the Department for the Economy, the Ballymena Campus forms part of a wider £101 million capital programme for Northern Regional College, which also includes the recently completed Causeway Campus in Coleraine.