The Ground Up Project expands with third new café at University Centre Birkenhead

The café will bring a unique blend of great coffee, community and opportunity to one of the region’s leading centres for health and nursing education.  

Located within Marriss House in the heart of Birkenhead, the new Ground Up café will serve nursing students, university staff and the wider professional community based within the building. The centre is home to specialist teaching facilities where future healthcare professionals develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they will go on to use caring for people across the region.  

While every Ground Up café reflects the community it serves, the mission remains the same. The Ground Up Project exists to create opportunities, build confidence and develop skills through welcoming café spaces where great coffee brings people together. Every location is designed to be far more than somewhere to grab a drink. It is a place to connect, recharge and feel part of a community. 

The opening at University Centre Birkenhead marks another important milestone in Ground Up’s growing network of purpose-led cafés – and The Ground Up Project’s third outlet outside of Petty Pool. Ground Up at Theatre Porto in Ellesmere Port opened in 2024, and just recently Ground Up at The Proud Place opened its doors in central Manchester, serving the LGBTQ+ Community who use the community space run by The Proud Trust. 

By creating cafés in different communities and settings, Ground Up is extending its social impact while seeking to unlock opportunities for work experience and employment  for neurodivergent individuals, including learners from Petty Pool College.  

The University’s Birkenhead campus provides specialist education for nursing and other healthcare programmes, featuring advanced clinical skills facilities, simulated hospital environments and dedicated learning spaces that prepare students for careers in frontline healthcare.  

Sarah Lowe, Head of Community Impact at The Petty Pool Trust, speaking on behalf of The Ground Up Project said: “Every Ground Up café has its own personality because every community is different. What never changes is our purpose. We believe great coffee can bring people together, create opportunities and help people feel welcome and connected. We’re incredibly proud to become part of the University Centre Birkenhead community and to support the students, staff and professionals based here every day.” 

As students prepare for careers dedicated to caring for others, Ground Up hopes its newest café will become somewhere they can pause, recharge, meet friends, collaborate with colleagues or simply enjoy great coffee and quality food in a welcoming and inclusive environment. 

The Birkenhead opening follows Ground Up’s continued expansion across the region, with further cafés planned as the social enterprise continues its mission of creating places where great coffee, great people and great communities come together. 

Angie Standish, Head of Carees and Employability at the University of Chester, said: “Since learning about The Ground Up Project at Petty’s Pool Neuro-inclusion conference I have been inspired by their commitment to help neurodivergent young people gain skills and independence through inclusive work opportunities.  Combining great coffee, with developing skills and experience is such a transformative way to nurture talent and support personal and professional growth.  Supporting individuals who are neurodivergent, to develop confidence and discover strengths is something that we’re very much proud to be part of.”

Trace Street, Head of Commercial Services at the University of Chester, said: “We are delighted to welcome The Ground Up Project to University Centre Birkenhead. The café will provide a valuable space for our students, staff, commercial occupants and visitors to connect, relax and recharge, while also supporting an organisation that is making a meaningful difference through its commitment to inclusion, opportunity and community impact. Ground Up’s values align strongly with our own and we look forward to seeing it become an important part of campus life.”

Caption: (Left to right) Michaela Randell– Hospitality Manager and Cheryl Kirk - Cafe Manager, both at the Ground Up Project.