Merrist Wood College and University Centre has officially opened its new state-of-the-art facilities following a £22m investment from the Department for Education (DfE), marking a major milestone in the college’s history.
The new buildings were officially opened at a special ceremony on Wednesday 23 September, by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey Neelam Dharni Devesher MBE.
The event was attended by representatives from the Department for Education, local employers and partners, students and alumni of the college, alongside staff from Merrist Wood College and University Centre and the wider Activate Learning group.
The formal opening marked the completion of one of the largest capital investment projects in Activate Learning’s history.
The £22m redevelopment has transformed significant parts of the Merrist Wood campus, creating modern, industry-focused environments designed to support the changing skills needs of learners, employers and communities across Surrey.
At the heart of the redevelopment are the new Norman Shaw Building and Peyto Shrubb Centre, alongside new commercial glasshouses. Together, the facilities will provide learners with access to modern workshops, laboratories, technology and specialist teaching environments that more closely reflect the workplaces and industries they will enter.
The development builds on Merrist Wood College’s long-established expertise in land-based education, including horticulture, landscaping, arboriculture, countryside management, animal management and equine, while providing facilities capable of supporting the increasing importance of science, technology, digital skills and sustainability across these industries.
The redevelopment has also been designed with sustainability at its heart, with highly sustainable, low-carbon buildings supporting Activate Learning’s wider commitment to creating learning environments that prepare students for the transition towards a greener economy.
Gary Headland DL, Chief Executive of Activate Learning, said: “Today represents an incredibly important moment for Merrist Wood College and University Centre and for Activate Learning.
“When we first secured this investment from the Department for Education, our ambition was not simply to replace buildings. We wanted to create outstanding learning environments that would give people the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
“Seeing learners now using these facilities brings that ambition to life. This investment strengthens Merrist Wood College’s position as an important education and skills partner for West Surrey and gives us an extraordinary platform from which to work even more closely with employers, communities and partners for generations to come.
“I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in bringing this ambitious project from an idea to reality.”
Jo Manser, Group Director of Merrist Wood College and University Centre, said: “Merrist Wood has a proud history and a very special place within land-based education but today is about looking to the future.
“These facilities allow us to combine that heritage with the technology, specialist environments and industry-standard resources our learners need for the careers of tomorrow.
“The most exciting thing for me is not simply seeing these buildings completed, but seeing what is already happening inside them. They are places where learners can discover new possibilities, develop their confidence and skills, and prepare for careers in industries that are themselves changing rapidly.
“This is the beginning of a new chapter for Merrist Wood College and University Centre, and I am incredibly excited about what we can achieve from here.”
Philip Waddup, Group Director of Property, Environment and Sustainability at Activate Learning, said: “Delivering a project of this scale has involved an enormous amount of planning, collaboration and expertise, and it is incredibly rewarding to see the new facilities officially open.
“Sustainability and the long-term needs of learners have been central to the project from the outset. We wanted to create buildings that provide outstanding specialist teaching environments while also reflecting the direction in which the industries we serve are moving.
“I would like to thank the Department for Education, our contractors and partners, and colleagues across Activate Learning who have worked together to deliver these facilities.”
The redevelopment follows the groundbreaking ceremony held in 2024, which marked the official start of construction and was attended by representatives from Activate Learning, Galliford Try and the then Mayor of Guildford.
The investment forms part of the Department for Education’s programme to improve educational infrastructure and ensure learners have access to high-quality teaching and learning environments.
Merrist Wood College and University Centre, part of the Activate Learning group, is based on a 400-acre campus near Guildford and specialises in land-based education. The college supports learners across further and higher education, apprenticeships, adult learning and Foundation and SEND programmes.
The new facilities will enable the college to strengthen its relationships with employers, schools, universities, local authorities and community partners while creating further opportunities for people across Surrey to access education and develop the skills needed by the region’s economy.
Following the official opening, guests were given the opportunity to tour the new facilities, meet students and staff and see first-hand how the new learning environments are supporting education and skills development at Merrist Wood.
