Work is now underway to create a Health Education and Community Wellbeing Hub at Plymouth Marjon University. The Hub will provide a base for the University’s health programmes and community care clinics. The project was made possible by a significant capital funding award from the Office for Students (OfS), totalling £5.8 million.
Central to the University’s health education plan is the refurbishment of the Peninsula Allied Health Centre (PAHC) building (set to become the Marjon Health Education and Community Wellbeing Hub). This first-class facility will accommodate Marjon’s growing health education offer and be a base for its public-facing health clinics including osteopathy, physiotherapy, and counselling.
RELATED PLYMOUTH MARJON NEWS
The beginning of the refurbishment marks a pivotal moment in the University’s mission to advance healthcare education, address regional workforce shortages, and broaden the healthcare offer to the Plymouth community.
Since 2021, Plymouth Marjon has embarked on an ambitious Growth Plan aimed at expanding opportunity for health and wellbeing education in the region. The new funding injection from the OfS will propel this initiative forward.
Professor Claire Taylor, Vice-Chancellor at Plymouth Marjon said:
“We are delighted to broaden our health education facilities through this new project. It reaffirms our commitment to providing high-quality, personalised education that meets the evolving needs of the healthcare sector.”
The Office for Students’ capital funding programme focuses on supporting high-cost subjects of strategic importance, enhancing graduate employability, and promoting flexible provision. These criteria closely align with the University’s mission to deliver employer-led programmes that respond to regional workforce demands.
To kickstart the works, Plymouth Marjon University has appointed Expedite PS for design work and project management, while Classic Builders (South West) will spearhead the enabling stage of the refurbishment efforts. The first phase of work, involving the stripping out of redundant partitions and services, has already begun, and the project aims to complete in Spring 2025.
Professor Michelle Jones, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Senior Responsible Officer for the project, added:
“We are committed to creating a vibrant learning environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. Through strategic partnerships and transformative learning experiences, we aim to produce graduates who are equipped to address the complex healthcare challenges of the future.”
The refurbished PAHC building will house cutting-edge technology enhanced facilities, including clinical skill, diagnostic, and simulation laboratories. These facilities will support the launch of new technical and clinical programmes, including nursing and allied health professions which widen opportunity.
Plymouth Marjon University’s holistic approach to healthcare education emphasises community engagement and lifelong learning. By collaborating with partners from various sectors, the University ensures that its graduates are equipped to address locality health needs and promote patient-centred care.
RELATED PLYMOUTH MARJON PLYMOUTH NEWS
Find out more about the Office for Students funding here, and learn more about studying health at Marjon here.
