All systems go for Morley’s new Learning and Skills Centre

A central pillar of the Morley Town Deal’s skills agenda, the new Morley Learning and Skills Centre will focus on enabling adults to improve their skills and qualifications to boost their employability and career prospects.

Purchased by Leeds City Council in October 2023, the Grade II-listed St Mary’s in the Wood Church building, dating from 1900, sits at the heart of the town’s newly revised conservation area on Commercial Street.  The purchase was financed using money from a £24.3 million Morley Town Deal grant awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Run by Leeds City College, the new centre will offer courses to help residents upskill in growing sectors like technology and innovation. The subjects covered will range from coding, virtual reality, 2D printing and general IT skills, to English and maths.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council and executive member for economy, transport & sustainable development, said: “The start of work on the new Morley Learning and Skills Centre is a major step forward in providing a legacy of opportunity to the people of Morley through the government grant.

“Morley Town Deal consultations have consistently shown the ambition of Morley people to be able to access high-quality adult learning and upskilling opportunities locally.”

“With its focus on delivering technology-based learning, the opening of the new centre will deliver on those ambitions and help many generations of people to thrive in the future.”

Above: Work begins to convert the former St Mary's in the Wood Church building into a learning and skills centre for Morley. 

Planning permission for conversion work was granted in late 2024, and Bermar Building Co Ltd was appointed as the successful delivery partners following a recent competitive tender process.

Work on the building will involve restoring the roof, façade, windows, and doors and making the entrance more accessible with the installation of an access ramp at the front.

The interior will also be fully refurbished for use as a learning space, with a new lift installed to improve further accessibility and a pod constructed in the main hall to maximise the space. Work on the building is expected to be complete by autumn 2026.

Gerald Jennings, chair of the Morley Town Deal board, said: “The Morley Town Deal board has worked hard to develop a skills agenda that is both aspiring in its goals and sustainable in helping to future-proof the town’s workforce and provide lasting opportunities.

“The Morley Learning and Skills Centre, with its wide range of education and upskilling opportunities, is a legacy the Town Deal can be proud of, as it will provide people with opportunities for generations to come.

“I look forward to watching the exciting plans for this incredible learning institution take shape over the coming months and for the people of Morley to start enjoying the benefits the centre will provide.”

Leeds City College’s Director of Curriculum for Adults, Jo Dye, said: “We and our partners, Leeds City Council, have great plans for Morley and know that this centre will help so many people gain the training and education they, and local businesses, need.

“Major projects like this always involve overcoming challenges; we cleared the funding hurdle and now, with the appointment of Bermar Building Co Ltd as the contractor, we have reached another significant milestone.

“With the building work now underway, residents can look forward to seeing this exciting development, which will breathe new life into a much-loved former church hall in the heart of Morley, start to take shape.

“The result will be a centre that offers flexible learning opportunities, designed to fit around busy lives, access to digital facilities and training for all.” 

The development will include nods to the building’s heritage as a place of worship, with a commemorative plaque being prepared and the original pews set to be reinstalled after they are restored by the college’s RE: Workshop, which focuses on creative upcycling.

Rob Moon, Managing Director of Bermar Building Co Ltd, said: “We are thrilled to be working with the Morley Town Deal, Leeds City Council, and Leeds City College on the construction of the new Morley Learning and Skills Centre.

“As a company that specialises in restoring heritage buildings, it is exciting to be able to develop such a forward-looking resource for the people of Morley, while also retaining the character and heritage of a building that has been a part of the community for over 100 years.”

To keep up to date with all the news from Morley Town Deal, visit: https://morleytowndeal.commonplace.is/ or follow the Morley Town Deal on Facebook (@morleytowndeal).

Notes to editors:

Photo caption (headline image): Leeds City College’s Director of Curriculum for Adults, Jo Dye, Managing Director of Bermar Building Ltd, Rob Moon and chair of the Morley Town Deal skills working group, Helen Irving, following the handover of the building for construction to begin. 

All photo credits: Leeds City Council