University of Brighton secures £2.5m cash boost to upgrade teaching spaces for high-demand skills

The funding – part of a national £88.5m investment – will be used to refurbish key learning environments at the Moulsecoomb and Falmer campuses, upgrading audio-visual technology and improving building infrastructure to create healthier, more productive spaces for students and staff.

These improvements will focus on rooms most used by students studying in areas critical to Brighton and Sussex’s future economy, including engineering, computing, digital and AI, creative industries, and business and management. Almost three-quarters of the spaces earmarked for refurbishment are used by students on these high-priority courses, which align with the Sussex Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and national skills strategies.

Steve Porcher, Director of Estates, said:   

“Securing this funding from the Office for Students is a big win for the university. It means we can make targeted improvements to some of our most heavily used teaching spaces that support the skills the region needs most – from digital innovation to creative industries.”

Brighton is one of 60 universities and colleges in England to receive OfS capital funding totalling £88.5m for 2025-26.  

OfS Director of Resources and Finance, Nolan Smith, said:  

“This was a very competitive funding round, and the projects we are supporting will make a tangible difference to current and future students. As well as expanding opportunities for students in strategically important subject areas, these projects will offer a boost to local and regional economies and promote national growth.” 

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said:  

“This government is committed to supporting colleges and universities as engines of opportunity and growth up and down the country.   

“This cash boost from government ensures young people are using the most up-to-date tech and facilities, helping them to secure a future in the well-paying, highly skilled jobs that are crucial for our Plan for Change.”

As well as demonstrating how they will address the government’s industrial strategy and priority sectors for growth or meet the needs of local employers and regional economies, successful bidders also had to offer excellent value for money and support environmental sustainability measures.