We have spent tens of millions of pounds and more than a decade developing our world-class campus into what it is today.
Each of our buildings is truly unique and contains everything you need to succeed in your chosen subject. Here is a small taste of what gives our campus its wow factor:
- Convenient and accessible town centre location
- State-of-the-art teaching spaces
- Two huge libraries featuring thousands of books, journals, computers and tablets
- Plenty of social spaces to relax in
- Numerous cafés and restaurants serving delicious food and drink — including Starbucks
- Home of Lancashire’s top-rated restaurant
- Dedicated prayer facilities
- FREE Wi-Fi across campus
- On-site leisure facilities include a gym and pool
- On-site salon and spa
Beacon Centre
The £18.3m Beacon Centre is our flagship building and opened in 2012. Designed with both function and sustainability in mind, it features a myriad of modern, beautifully-designed teaching spaces, social spaces and other amenities that enhance the student experience.
Key Features
- Purpose-built classrooms and teaching spaces
- State-of-the-art Creative Arts studio spaces, print rooms and Apple Mac suites
- Photography darkroom
- Mock aircraft cabin for Travel and Tourism
- Mock hospital ward for Health and Social Care
- Library with thousands of books, journals, computers and tablets you can borrow — with dedicated quiet zones to enjoy them in
- Beacon Centre Café serving hot and cold food and beverages — including Starbucks
- The Hub — home of administrative and student services, careers advice and student finance
The Exchange
The Exchange allows learners to work independently, and in collaboration to exchange knowledge and skills and have access to a range of learner services including student finance, careers, learning technology and library support.
The Exchange is an inclusive learning environment which enhances the student experience, enabling learners to achieve outstanding results. The space includes a library, state-of-the-art technology such as self-issue machines, VDI computers and 250 drop-in PCs and laptops, providing you with all the software you’ll need to get ahead in your studies.
We have a substantial collection of learning resources including more than 35,000 books. Our 24/7 library of online databases, journals and e-books mean that you can fit your studies into your busy lifestyle whether you're on campus, at home or even on holiday. Each course or subject area has its own online library guide bringing all your key online library resources and study materials, such as ‘how tos’ for research and referencing and past exam papers, together in one easy to navigate webpage.
Everyone has different study styles and we have zones, spaces and study rooms to meet your needs, including group study areas, quiet study spaces and silent study rooms.
Helping you Succeed
Our friendly and supportive staff can help you find a book, print a document, or navigate your way through your online library guide. And it doesn’t stop there. We also offer photocopying, colour and black and white printing, a wide range of very reasonably priced stationery and binding, laminating services to help you get that polished look for your essays and reports.
Opening Times
Our opening hours may be subject to change. Please check Moodle, join our Facebook / Twitter pages or give us a ring for details.
- Monday to Thursday: 8.30am – 5.00pm
- Friday: 8.30am - 4.30pm
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Visitors
Please note the use of The Exchange is subject to Blackburn College rules and regulations and is for individual educational purposes only. We welcome the following external visitors to use our library facilities subject to the conditions below:
- You must be aged 18+
- You must be either Blackburn College Alumni OR studying at one of our partner organisations (If studying at a partner organisation: Lancaster University, UCLAN, University of South Wales - you will be required to show your current Student ID Card)
- You must provide contact details on registering for your visit.
- Visitor entry is only available in the Blackburn University Centre Library, from 10am – 3pm, Monday – Friday.
On arrival for your visit you must register as follows:
- Please report to Main Reception, Beacon Centre to sign in as a library visitor.
- You will need to show two forms of ID: one form of photographic ID (passport or driving licence) and one as proof of address (bank statement or utility bill).
- Once you have your Visitor ID, you can make your way across to the University Centre Library, where reception will arrange for a member of staff to meet you at the doors.
Services available during your visit:
- Reference only access to the book collection.
- Use of study space, including electric and Wi-Fi for your own device.
Services unavailable during your visit:
- Use of the college computer network including, PCs, Photocopiers and Printers.
- E-Books and Electronic Journals.
If you require any further information please contact us on 01254 292165
Regional Automotive Technology Hub (RATH)
The £5.5m Regional Automotive Technology Hub (RATH) — opened in 2014 — was developed collaboratively with leading dealerships including Bowker BMW and Simpsons Skoda. RATH is also a student-supported commercial garage, offering a number of services to the public.
Key Features
- Developed collaboratively with Chorley Nissan, Blackburn Audi, Bowker BMW, Simpsons Skoda and the Institute of the Motor Industry
- Real-world garage and workshop environment with commercial MOT lane
- Diagnostics laboratory
- A range of hybrid and electric vehicles to develop future-proofed skills
Construction Centre
The Construction Centre features all the practical facilities needed for future tradesmen and construction workers to master their craft. This includes purpose-built workshops for brickwork, plumbing, carpentry, joinery and fitted interiors.
Key Features
- Modern construction facilities, materials and working practices
- Purpose-built workshops for brickwork, plumbing, carpentry, joinery and fitted interiors
Sports and Leisure Centre
The £13.5m Sports and Leisure Centre opened in 2015 and features state-of-the-art fitness and leisure facilities open to all our students. It is also home to Sport courses — where two deluxe sport halls can accommodate a myriad of different sporting activities.
Key Features
- 2 deluxe, multi-sport halls
- 6-lane swimming pool with a water slide
- 80-station gym and fitness suite
- Aerobics studio
- Spin studio
- Physiotherapy laboratory
Futures Centre
The £7m Futures Centre opened in 2013 and is home to a diverse mix of curriculum areas including Engineering, Media and Music. The building is equipped with world-class facilities featuring modern technologies, covering a range of spaces such as classrooms, workshops and studios.
Key Features
- Engineering and advanced manufacturing workshops and classrooms with state-of-the-art equipment and machinery
- Electrical Installation workshops
- Media and television studio, control room and Apple Mac edit suites
- Music recording studio with professional mixing and production facilities
Elizabeth Building
The Elizabeth Building is home to Academy Hair and Beauty and Scholars Training Restaurant; both of which are student-run enterprises and open to the public. Scholars are currently Lancashire’s top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor.
Key Features
- Academy Hair and Beauty features hairdressing and barbering salons, beauty therapy and spa facilities - all open to the public.
- Scholars Restaurant features a training restaurant open to the public and a number of professional kitchen facilities.
- Food4Thought serves delicious hot and cold food and drink
Victoria Building
The iconic Grade II-listed Victoria Building dates back to 1888 and is steeped in local heritage. In the modern day, it is home to Skills for Work and Fine Art — the latter of which occupies a beautiful top-floor studio space featuring heaps of natural light.
Key Features
- Grade II-listed and was the original Blackburn College building
- Home to Skills for Work, Media Makeup and Fine Art
- Beautiful Fine Art top-floor studio space with heaps of natural light
- Additional Music practice rooms
