Blackburn College marks 125th anniversary

Business leaders from across the region came together to celebrate 125 years of Blackburn College.

Visiting dignitaries, including Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, and Ann Jordan, the High Sheriff of Lancashire, paid tribute to the role the college has played in helping to shape the economic landscape in East Lancashire.

At the time it was one of only a dozen colleges in the country. Now more than a century on, it's one of the largest colleges with a University centre in the UK.

“We were one of the first colleges established in the North West, and one of the first dozen or so in the country, so we have played an important part in shaping the economic landscape in East Lancashire, and we will continue to do so going forwards.”

Acting chair of governors, Phil Watson, added: “The college started in 1888 to give the population, at the height of the industrial revolution, skills and education. The principles remain the same but there has been an incredible change around the college and more will come with the STEM building, the new automotive building, and the sports centre.