A former canteen and dining room at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln is being turned into much needed teaching accommodation as the institution gears up for an increase in students.

BGU is spending £850,000 on converting the former Connie’s dining room and kitchen into an academic facility.

The refurbishment project will create seven multi-functional, flexible teaching spaces on the ground floor of the building which will be ready for use in September 2015.

The university’s strategic plan envisages a growth in student numbers and BGU is also broadening the range of courses it offers, introducing Business (Team Entrepreneurship), Health and Social Care, Sociology, Psychology, Counselling and History and Archaeology from September.

Part of the new teaching facility will be used by staff and students on the university’s new Business (Team Entrepreneurship) degree course.

“In the past Connie’s was the place where our students who lived on campus had their meals, but now we’ve moved to self-catering accommodation and opened the Refectory to cater for the changing demand,” said Fred Robson, Head of Estates at BGU.

“We no longer need this catering space so we’re converting the building to give us additional teaching space as we grow our student numbers.”

The work, which entails some minor demolition and re-roofing of the former kitchen, is being undertaken by the main contractor, Robert Woodhead Ltd from Mansfield.

Notes to editors:
• Bishop Grosseteste University was established in January 1862 and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2012.
• It is an independent higher education institution based in Lincoln which awards its own undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
• It changed its name from Bishop Grosseteste University College to Bishop Grosseteste University in November 2012.
• Connie’s was part of Constance Stewart Hall, named after Miss Constance Stewart who was Principal of the Diocesan Training College (now BGU) between the wars.

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