The college is particularly proud it has industry-standard equipment, allowing it to offer the very latest in recording technology. “Courses have to be relevant,” Chris Bradley (above), head of music and performing arts, says. “By using equipment that is universally popular in the music industry students get a taste of the kit they are likely to use in the real world.”

The new centre is equipped with 12 recording studios, six live rooms, four rehearsal studios, instrument tuition rooms and a variable acoustic live recording room - in addition to existing facilities including television studios, video editing suites, acting workshops and a record label office.

Photograph by PETER DEVLIN