The Opening of Borderville Sports Centre's Extension

The grand opening of the Borderville Sports Centre extension was celebrated among local dignitaries, Inspire Education Group (IEG) staff and Stamford College students in a ceremony that overlooked the 3G pitches of the £2 million facility.

Half-funded by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP), the extension of Borderville has seen the building gain a refreshed and welcoming kerb appeal. Designed by Waterlands Architects and built by Lindums, the facility is built from locally-sourced Ketton limestone and sustainably sourced timber. The end result is the stunning new facia you see today, that’s keeping with the modern facilities offered by the College across its wider campus, and the historical setting of Stamford town.

Upon their arrival, guests were greeted in the refurbished reception, before touring the 807sqm of new learning space, which includes a sports laboratory, gym, IT room, study zone, and six classrooms. Rachel Nicholls, Inspire Education Group’s Chief Executive Officer, spoke of how “the Sports Centre extension is a great example of innovation and excellence within IEG”. She continued, “The building ensures that Stamford College students are able to learn in first-class facilities”. This was reaffirmed by the Chair of Governors of the organisation, Ian Jackson, who said, “Buildings and facilities really matter to us – we can see that if students learn in a really great, industry-standard environment, it raises aspirations and provides them with great experience”.

Borderville is now the primary learning facility for over 100 additional students on a weekly basis, including those studying Sports and Public Services courses, and those enrolled at the Air & Defence College. A spokesperson for GLLEP said, “We’re very pleased to have contributed to this important development with £1.12 million of grant funding. The centre is not only delivering new courses and apprenticeships in the in the realms of Sports and Public Services, but will also provide a much-needed training space for our defence sector”.

After the serving of canapés by the College’s Catering & Hospitality students, guests made their way to the front of the building to proceed with the grand opening of the facility. Gareth Davies, MP for the Grantham & Stamford constituency, cut the ribbon and declared the building officially open; “The Borderville Sports Centre extension is laying the foundations to ensure that Stamford’s future is as significant as its past. This is an amazing facility at an amazing college and will play a big part in shaping the future of our town and the community”.

To find out more about the Borderville Sports Complex, click here.