Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group Officially Launches 'NSCG in Town' Adult Learning Hub
07 September 2026
Adult Learning
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) has officially opened its brand-new adult learning hub, NSCG in Town, located at 41 Greengate Street in the heart of Stafford town centre.
A £2.1m redevelopment has transformed the former NatWest bank building - which had stood vacant since June 2025 - into a vibrant, modern educational facility designed exclusively to bring all Stafford-based daytime adult learning provision together under one roof. Supported by funding from the Department for Education (DfE), the project marks a major milestone in widening participation, supporting lifelong learning and creating new pathways for mature students to gain crucial skills and confidence.
The official launch event on 4 September brought together community partners, stakeholders, and civic leaders to tour the new facility, hear keynote addresses and celebrate student achievements as NSCG begins a new chapter for adult education in Staffordshire.
Celebrating this milestone event for adult learning across the region, civic leaders, community partners and stakeholders alongside His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Staffordshire – Professor Elizabeth Barnes CBE and High Sheriff Pritpal Singh Nagi were in attendance alongside Leigh Ingham MP for Stafford, Eccleshall and the villages, who has championed support for the project and helped make this exciting new chapter for adult education possible.
Commenting on the new venture, Craig Hodgson, Principal and Chief Executive of NSCG, said: "We are delighted to officially open NSCG in Town on Greengate Street. This acquisition is a key part of our long-term strategy to manage the incredible growth we have seen across all age groups in recent years. Not only are we providing a professional, adult-only learning hub that is tailored to mature learners, we are also unlocking capacity on our main campus to accommodate the next generation. This new facility ensures every learner in Stafford - whether 16 or 60 - has access to an outstanding learning environment."
Leigh Ingham, MP for Stafford, Eccleshall and the villages, who championed support from government for the venture, said: "This is a massive achievement, not only for the college but the town too and I'm so proud to have supported NSCG with their campaign to open an adult learning centre. Something like this in our town centre will help even more young people, and crucially, adult learners to access education. This project will bring huge benefits to our community, from supporting local businesses and strengthening our high street to creating opportunities for people to learn, train, and build a future right here in Stafford. I've said it once and I'll say it again, Stafford college is the best in the country, so it is no surprise that they continue to grow. "
The dedicated three-storey building features purpose-built seminar rooms for collaborative learning, a modern IT suite for digital training, private tutorial spaces, and administrative offices for the NSCG adult education team. Moving adult classes - including maths, English, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), essential digital skills and Access to Higher Education - from the main college sites into this central venue also frees up vital capacity at the main Stafford College campus to accommodate growing numbers of 16–18 school leavers.
For more information about adult courses and learning opportunities at NSCG in Town, visit nscg.ac.uk/adults.
