WILTSHIRE College and University Centre's redevelopment project has begun with hopes to increase further and higher education opportunities.

The Salisbury Campus redevelopment is the next project for Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP), who have invested more than £14 million into the scheme.

This money will first be spent on the campus by recladding exterior walls and completing internal conversion work, followed by replacing some of the existing buildings with one new build in the centre of the campus.

Biomedical science, pharmaceuticals and health and nutrition will be some of the new courses on offer once the redevelopment is complete according to Amanda Burnside, principal at Wiltshire College and University Centre, adding: "“It’s fantastic that work is finally starting on this exciting project, which will be an important part of addressing some of the higher-level skills gaps in Swindon and Wiltshire and particularly in the Salisbury area."

The redevelopment work hopes to be completed by 2020.

Chairman of SWLEP, John Mortimer said: “Enabling businesses to have an appropriately skilled and competitive workforce to support growth, innovation and creativity remains an investment priority for the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

"We have committed to providing better further and higher education provision by 2021 and I am delighted to see the first of our projects in Salisbury getting started.”

The SWLEP project investment has been made possible through its deal with the government and the government's local growth fund, securing funds to not only help the Salisbury campus but college sites across Wiltshire.

Local growth minister, Jake Berry said it is "wonderful" to see the project come to life and offer students the opportunity to "develop the skills needed for high-value jobs in these state-of-the art facilities", adding: “We’re committed to boosting economic growth across the whole of the UK and building a Britain fit for the future."