University to make estates improvements with Government funding announcement

Work will take place across two sites – Exton Park and Chester Business School at Queen’s Park – using the £2.4million funding announced this week.

At Exton Park, the roof of the Binks building will be repaired and teaching spaces modernised. From 2026 the first year cohort will include business students enabling more enterprise education across all subjects. The funding will also allow the University to build an innovative outdoor seating and presentation area by the recently refurbished School of Education at Exton Park. This outdoor teaching, learning and social space is for skills training, employer workshops and presentations. 

The School of Education building was refurbished last year and will be recognised at the end of this month with a Cheshire West Design award.

Following on from the 2024 Times Higher Education Business School of the Year award, Queen's Park Campus is emerging as an innovative Graduate school. This grant enables the creation of an exciting FinTech (Financial Technology) Lab to stay one step ahead in the AI race. 

Successful bids for this funding needed to demonstrate how they would address the Government’s industrial strategy and priority sectors for growth. Based on the University's track record our bid also demonstrated excellent value for money and sound environmental sustainability measures.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester, Professor Eunice Simmons, said: “This is exciting news for the University and will enable us to further invest in dynamic new teaching spaces for our students and staff to learn and teach in. Thanks to all involved in securing this bid and ensuring that Chester is at the forefront of responding to the employment and economic needs of the region and beyond.”