University Campus of Football Business (UCFB) and its Global Institute of Sport (GIS) are progressing with the £16m expansion of their Manchester campus after securing planning approval for new academic centres at new sites across the city.
The expansion will enable UCFB to grow to 2,500 students studying in Manchester by 2027, nurturing and developing the next generation of young talent for the football and wider sports industry. With more programmes and more industry leading employer partnerships resulting in more students employed within the sector, UCFB’s growth continues to go from strength to strength.
Starting at Burnley FC’s Turf Moor ground in 2011 and relocating to Manchester in 2016, UCFB and GIS have grown year on year, with developments in London, Miami, Melbourne, Toronto and now continued developments at its national campus in Manchester. UCFB’s industry leading role is a real success story as a leading provider of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and executive education in football and sports industries.
With its Head Office in Manchester, UCFB and GIS are the biggest and best dedicated sports educator in the UK. UCFB and GIS have recently been crowned winners at the 2023 Football Business Awards, winning the ‘Best business serving football – over 200 employees’ category, an award fitting for its role in the sector.
With planning approval granted in June from Salford Council for a new academic centre at Exchange Quay in Salford, which will allow the creation of a new Football and Sports Business centre, as well as planning approval granted in February for a new innovative Mulitmedia centre at Quay Plaza, MediaCity, which will be home to Football and Sports Media and Communications students, plans remain on track for works to be completed in mid-August ahead of the new student intake in September.
Furthermore, a planning application has been submitted for a change of use for the ground floor unit at No1 Old Trafford facing the Wharfside Metrolink station and a stone’s throw from Old Trafford Football Stadium. The plans include the development of a 60-seater seminar room together with state of the art, specialist media broadcast studios.
Students will also have unrivalled stadium experiences at Old Trafford Football Stadium and the Etihad Stadium, through UCFB’s premier events programme. These Premier Events will include summit days with industry leading guest speakers, career-focused events and trade conferences.
Brendan Flood, chairman of UCFB commented: “This £16million investment will transform the UCFB and GIS offer in Manchester, enabling the development of the next generation of talent for the rapidly growing football and sports industry in the region. With BBC, ITV, Dock10 and key business quarters on our doorstep, along with access to iconic stadiums, new high-quality, dedicated academic centres fostering new communities of practice will benefit our students greatly without disruption to their learning. We are delighted with the progress of our plans, and we look forward to welcoming our new and returning students this coming September to our new and improved expanded Manchester campus, in one of, if not the world’s greatest sport cities and the home of football.
