Economy Minister opens £55million Northern Regional College campus in Ballymena

Pictured at the opening of Northern Regional College's £55million Ballymena Campus are (L-R) NRC Ballymena Campus Chief Executive and Principal, Mel Higgins, student Jamie Topkul (Creative Media Production Level 3), Economy Minister, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, student Shazney O'Boyle (Motor Vehicle Trainee) and NRC Chair of Governing Body, Colm McKenna.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has officially opened Northern Regional College’s new £55million Ballymena Campus — a landmark investment in education, skills and innovation for the Mid and East Antrim area.

The state-of-the-art campus, located on the former Farm Lodge site, brings together all of the College’s Ballymena provision under one roof. Spanning five storeys and covering 16,800m², the new facility is designed to meet the evolving needs of students, local industry and the wider community.

Already open to learners, the College has reported a 12% increase in full-time enrolments for the new academic year — an early indication of strong demand for its enhanced offering.

Fully funded by the Department for the Economy, the Ballymena project forms part of a wider £101million capital programme to improve Northern Regional College’s estate, which also includes the newly completed Causeway Campus in Coleraine.

“A facility that puts skills and people at its heart”

Speaking at the opening, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald praised the development as a major boost for local skills and industry.

“This impressive new facility will allow Northern Regional College to continue its excellent work in providing the training and skills which underpin my Economic Vision,” she said.

“The local economy here is supported by a vibrant engineering sector. And with this comes demand for a highly skilled workforce which this new campus is well placed to deliver.

“Equipped with the latest technologies, and a skilled teaching staff, this new campus will allow us to continue to adapt to the emerging needs of business.”

The Minister also highlighted the project’s success in generating employment opportunities during construction.

“This campus - even in its construction - had people and skills at its heart. Almost 1,500 weeks of employment and training were provided across a range of construction-related trades as this campus was built.

“With 27 apprentices afforded the opportunity to learn their trade right here; seeing their efforts come to fruition, and today, taking pride in the campus they helped to create. I’m pleased to say, many of these apprentices have now also secured employment with their companies, further strengthening the links between business and academia locally.”

A new era for education in Ballymena

The Ballymena Campus has been designed to accommodate around 1,800 learners annually, offering facilities that support both academic study and practical training.

Key highlights include:

• A dedicated Sports Zone

• A training restaurant and hair and beauty salons for real-world learning

• A 5,000m² Advanced Technologies Department, offering specialist training in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Electrical, and Electronic Engineering, as well as Motor Vehicle and Construction disciplines

• Facilities for trades such as Electrical Installation, Plumbing, Carpentry, Joinery, and Bricklaying

Architecturally, the campus features an open-plan staircase encouraging collaboration and breakout learning, alongside an Innovation Zone — a flexible space for cross-curriculum projects, events, and community engagement.

At its highest elevation, the building offers panoramic views across the ECOS landscape to the east and over the St Patrick’s Regeneration Site to the west.

Transforming teaching and community collaboration

Mel Higgins, Principal and Chief Executive of Northern Regional College, described the opening as a “pivotal moment” for the institution and the wider region.

“The opening of our new Ballymena Campus marks a pivotal moment for Northern Regional College as our staff, students and wider community can now enjoy these outstanding facilities.

“This purpose-built facility marks a major investment in the future of education, skills development, and innovation within the region. It will transform our teaching approaches, enhance student learning experiences and strengthen collaboration with employers and communities.

“The early signs are promising, with a 12% increase in full-time student numbers. I am immensely proud of this achievement and excited for what lies ahead.”

Partnership and persistence behind the project

Colm McKenna, Chair of the College’s Governing Body, paid tribute to all who helped bring the project to fruition.

“A project of this scale requires vision, leadership, determination, and above all, partnership.

“I extend my gratitude to the Department for the Economy for their investment and dedication to the future of skills and training in Northern Ireland.

“I also wish to thank our project teams, current and former governors, and our construction partners Heron Bros, whose professionalism and commitment to quality were instrumental in delivering this campus.

“Above all, I commend our exceptional staff, whose unwavering dedication ensured uninterrupted learning throughout this period of change.

“Today’s official opening is a testament to persistence, patience, and partnership, and I congratulate everyone involved in bringing this vision for first-class learning to fruition.”