New specialist creative college has a confirmed home in Bradford

Spearheaded by the BPI, the college will be free for students to attend and has a planned opening of September 2028 

Launch of the new college builds on music industry’s growing presence outside of London – from 2026 BRIT Awards in Manchester, to 2025 Mercury Prize in Newcastle 

Plans for a new specialist creative college have taken a significant step forward today (5 February) as Bradford Council confirmed the sale of the site to the Department for Education (DfE), which will fund its construction.

This free-to-attend college will offer a vocational curriculum, providing young people with skills at the cutting-edge of industry practice, setting them up for successful careers in the UK’s world-leading creative industries.  With 500 places available, the college will offer a creative curriculum spanning disciplines including Music & Music Technology, Performance, Production Arts, Film & Media Production, and Digital Design.

The college is being spearheaded by BPI, the trade body for the UK’s recorded music industry, representing 500 music companies across the UK including Sony Music Entertainment UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK.

It’s based on the successful model of The BRIT School in London, which has been supported by the industry for 30 years. Just this weekend, alumni from the school dominated the GRAMMY Awards – with wins for Olivia Dean, Lola Young, FKA Twigs and RAYE.

The college will be designed to ensure young people in Bradford and the surrounding region have access to the same opportunities, enriching their lives and strengthening the UK’s creative industries. The college builds on the music industry’s existing presence across the UK – from the 2026 BRIT Awards in Manchester’s Co-op Live, to the highly successful 2025 Mercury Prize which took place in Newcastle.

Kier has been appointed by the DfE to construct a new building on the former Jacob’s Well car park in the centre of Bradford, with a view to the college being ready to open for the 2028 academic year.

The announcement was made by Dr Jo Twist OBE, Chief Executive of BPI, at the launch of ‘Bradford Built Different,’ the Council’s ten-year Regeneration and Growth Plan. From driving investment and innovation through the district’s major sectors to raising Bradford’s profile on a global stage, the plan was revealed in detail to power growth based on four main drivers: Culture, Transport, Skills, and the Regeneration Pipeline.

Dr Jo Twist OBE, Chief Executive of BPI said:

“There’s been a lot of work going on behind the scenes since we announced the success of our bid in the summer of 2023. 

“We’re delighted to now be sharing more about this project including our fantastic central city location. Sitting in the heart of West Yorkshire’s creative cluster, Bradford is home to a vibrant community, who are passionate about culture and creativity.

“We’d like to thank Bradford Council and the Department for Education for their collaboration on reaching this exciting milestone.”

Leader of Bradford Council Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe said:

“The Bradford district has one of the youngest populations in Europe and our successful year as UK City of Culture 2025 showed what an incredible amount of talent those young people have.

“We’re really excited to have this new specialist college opening in Bradford to further build on our cultural offer, which is already second to none. It will mean our young people have access to world-class training and great industry networks  – I can’t wait to see some of the stars of the future who make their names here in our city.

“The Council is working closely with everyone involved and this positive step forward reflects our ongoing commitment to making sure all our young people have access to the right training that suits their talents.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“This new college is going to be a gamechanger for young creatives across the North. 

“BRIT School stars like Olivia Dean and Lola Young, who dominated at the Grammy’s this weekend, show what can happen when talent is given the right education and support. 

“I’m thrilled that creatives in West Yorkshire will get those same opportunities to develop their skills, back their ambition and take their talent to the world.”

Music stars to have emerged from the city in the past two decades include former Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh, solo star Gareth Gates, former One Direction star Zayn Malik, Bingley rock band Marmozets, and the BRIT-award nominated Bad Boy Chiller Crew.

For any enquiries related to this project, please contact [email protected]