Official Opening

Our brand new £70 million building was officially opened by England Football manager, Fabio Capello on Friday 26 February 2010.

The occasion, which was attended by many students, staff and VIPs, was marked by the unveiling of the very large Suffolk New College sign at the front of the new building, followed by short speeches from Professor Richard Nicol, Chair of Suffolk New College Corporation, Professor Dave Muller, College Principal and Fabio Capello.

Richard Nicol, Chair of the Suffolk New College Governing Body said "This new building is not only fantastic for our current students but will also have such a positive impact for many years to come.  We are a community college focussed on providing opportunities for the people of South Suffolk and Ipswich. We are grateful to the Football Association for their support, and to such a distinguished individual and leader as Mr Capello for agreeing to officially open our new building.”

Dave Muller, Principal of Suffolk New College said, “We were absolutely delighted to have had an individual of the qualities possessed by Mr Capello to officially open our new build.  We wanted somebody who stood out above others for their achievements, and of course Mr Capello does just that. And just two of these qualities are so important in the modern world we live: leadership which he displays throughout the way he undertakes his role; and of course ambition.  He is clearly a role model for all of us. Football is a vehicle for generating both economic and cultural wealth.  Those of us attending Ipswich Town on a regular basis realise just how busy the town is on those occasions and the ways in which businesses benefit from having over 20,000 people in their town."

We are privileged at Suffolk New College to teach a wide range of skills which impact and provide an infrastructure for our beautiful game.  Football is a business and has to be supported by employees who display a wide range of skills including business acumen in financial accounting; catering and hospitality; fitness and health; child care and the provision of crèches and nurseries; media and art; engineering and electrical skills and of course construction.  

Mr Capello said, “I’m very pleased to have been invited to Suffolk New College to officially open the new building.”