The College for West Anglia’s School of Nursing Studies is scaling up its training offer after securing nearly £190,000 in funding from Norfolk County Council – an investment set to benefit more than 1,300 students preparing for careers in health and social care.
The £188,930 grant has paid for specialist clinical equipment at the college’s King’s Lynn campus, including professional-grade storage systems, interactive training mannequins and resources designed to support vocational courses, technical qualifications and apprenticeships.
The funding lands alongside the completion of a major expansion of the School of Nursing Studies. A newly built second storey – part of a £1.4 million development funded by the University of Suffolk’s Centre of Excellence for Health Apprenticeships project, with additional support from the college – has added advanced teaching rooms, clinical skills labs and simulation spaces. Together, the investment increases capacity and brings the learning environment closer to real-world healthcare settings.
The new facilities integrate VR and AI-driven learning tools alongside hyper-realistic robotic mannequins that reflect a range of ages, genders and ethnicities. Combined with authentic clinical equipment aligned to local healthcare needs, the upgrades are designed to ensure training remains responsive to the demands of a fast-changing sector.
For students, the impact is immediate.
Sophie Wareham, 24, who is studying Access to Medicine, said: “While I have found the course to be demanding, the support from the tutors at the School of Nursing Studies has helped me to progress, build confidence in my academic ability and prepared me for higher education. This is also a result of the facilities provided in the building, which have made a huge contribution to everyone’s achievement in their individual courses and benefit the whole cohort.
“Having access to equipment like this has not only enhanced our learning environment but increased our motivation and ambition too.”
Wayne Pereira, 21, also studying Access to Medicine, added: “The School of Nursing Studies is an amazing facility and, with the support it is receiving from Norfolk County Council, it will continue to grow into one of the best in the country. The facilities provide a great opportunity to develop essential skills, but it is the tutors who make the course truly engaging and enjoyable.”
Around 90% of the school’s 1,320 students are expected to secure employment locally, helping to strengthen the regional workforce at a time of growing demand – particularly with the development of the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.
David Pomfret, Principal of the College for West Anglia, said: “The healthcare sector is a priority for the local economy, and one which affects us all. The School of Nursing Studies is one of the best equipped healthcare skills development centres in the region. The recent expansion, and investment in additional resources from Norfolk County Council, will enable us to train more local people for careers across a wider range of health and social care settings, including dentistry.”
Cllr Fabian Eagle, Norfolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Employment and Skills, said: “I am delighted that the county council has been able to help fund the specialist equipment for this vital teaching facility. Health and social care, dentistry included, is one of the sectors where we have a shortage of skills so these additional facilities at the College of West Anglia will deliver lasting benefits for people living in our region.”
Local councillors echoed that view.
Cllr Rob Colwell, member for Gaywood North Bank, said: “The state-of-the-art facility is growing, and this can only be a good thing for students and West Norfolk. This vital new grant ensures high-quality specialist equipment is available and strengthens the collaboration with local health centres like the QEH, supporting the local workforce needs.”
Cllr Lesley Bainbridge, member for King’s Lynn North and Central, added: “I have long been impressed with what the College of West Anglia offers, particularly the School of Nursing Studies and courses like Access to Medicine, which open up many opportunities in healthcare where there is high demand for skilled people. This grant will enhance that learning and give students hands-on training for the many career paths available in this sector.”
