Willmott Dixon has been selected by Bolton College of Medical Sciences (BCMS) to develop a new medical and clinical skills training facility located at the Royal Bolton Hospital site in Farnworth.

It follows the recent announcement that MWD Healthcare, an alliance between Mace and Willmott Dixon for the Procure23 framework, had been chosen by University Hospitals Plymouth for the £126 million New Urgent and Emergency Care Centre at Derriford in Plymouth.

Procured using the Procure Partnerships framework, BCMS will provide best-in-class training opportunities for healthcare professionals in what is intended as a transformational blueprint for training NHS staff.

The project is a collaboration between the University of Bolton, Bolton College, Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and Bolton Council, designed to give people a direct route into clinical healthcare employment, with a focus on practical, skills-based learning in a live hospital environment.


In addition to a range of new courses and apprenticeships that will provide entry-level and higher-level skills development for those aged 16+, BCMS will also deliver continual professional development opportunities for existing NHS staff. Apprenticeship provision will extend to Higher and Degree Apprenticeships, with programmes including Nursing Apprenticeships and Higher Apprenticeships in Care Leadership and Management.

BCMS, allocated £20m by the Levelling Up Fund last year, will deliver training to approximately 3,000 learners each year. Once open, it is expected to contribute £150m to the local economy over its lifetime. As part of the programme, Willmott Dixon will deliver £6m in social value for the community, largely through local employment and supply-chain expenditure.

Anthony Dillon, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon in the North, said: "We are proud to continue to play our part in shaping the future of Bolton. BCMS will be built for the people of Bolton by the people of Bolton, and we will work with our local supply chain partners to create sustainable employment opportunities and a lasting positive legacy in this community."

The project is due to be complete in 2024, when the first intake of BCMS learners is due to start.