Boston Town Board has paid a visit to Boston College’s Mayflower building, the flagship Towns Fund project for Boston which has ushered in a new era of adult learning in the town.
The unique and inspiring space has been a long-held ambition for the Board and has been made possible by almost £10M in government funding.
During the visit, board members were able to see for themselves how the vision for the project has been translated into the reality of a state-of-the art centre for learning, business, and the community.
As well as learning spaces, the Mayflower offers business units for start-ups, as well as conference and digital hub facilities, and amenities such as a hair and beauty salon. The public is encouraged and welcomed to make use of facilities including the popular Eden restaurant and a new café called 1620. And, the building’s large and welcoming atrium space is to be used for college and community events such as the recent gathering to mark Remembrance Day.
Boston Town Board members were able to see the culmination of the project – which began with plans submitted to government in 2020 – when they visited the Mayflower on Tuesday, 9th December.
Back row: Pranali Parikh (director of economic development); Jurate Matulioniene (board member); Jacqui Bunce (board member); Michael Morris (board member); Cllr Gilbert (board member and deputy leader Boston Borough Council); Cllr Ingrid Sheard, (deputy mayor of Greater Lincolnshire); Neil Kempster (board member); Andy Lawrence (board member); Ivan Annibal (consultant supporting the board); Maria Cotton (assistant director regeneration and culture).
Front row: Abdul Hamid Qureshi (board member); Claire Foster (interim chair), and Alison Fairman (board member).
Claire Foster, Interim Chair and former Principal and CEO of Boston College said: “I know first-hand the huge amount of work that has been carried out by Boston College, working together with board members and partners, to realise this dream for the town.
“It’s a real pleasure to not only be able to showcase this impressive and important building to my fellow board members, but to also have the opportunity to host one of our board meetings here.
“The Mayflower began life as just a concept to support local people’s skills and aspirations in the town so it feels significant to get to spend time here, and our visit really highlights the difference that the Towns Fund is making for Boston.”
Councillor Mike Gilbert, Deputy Leader of Boston Borough Council and a Boston Town Board member said: “It was great to have the opportunity to spend time in the Mayflower which is such an inspirational space and a real asset for the town.
“It is clear to see that the Mayflower is a building for everyone, not only does it offer fantastic learning opportunities, it is also a place for the community and for businesses too.
“I was very impressed by ‘state of the art’ conference room and video conference facilities. This provides much needed high quality business conference space in the town centre which, when combined with the catering offer from the Boston College Catering students creates another high quality facility to take business and public services into a new and excitingly flexible future.
“The Mayflower and other exciting transformational projects being delivered in the town are showing just what can be achieved through investment in Boston.”
Located on the former Ingelow Centre site, the Mayflower was designed by YMD Boon and constructed by R G Carter, with design features celebrating Boston’s maritime heritage, including artwork depicting the historic Mayflower shipping route.
Lynette Leith OBE, Principal and CEO of Boston College said: “I am absolutely thrilled that the Mayflower building is now open and already benefitting customers, students and the community. Our new professional-standard hair and beauty salons, along with Café 1620 and Eden restaurant, are up and running and beginning to make a real difference to the student and customer experience. This investment marks an exciting step forward in skills, education and community inclusion which is what a further education is all about. The Mayflower brings together students, employers and local partners under one roof to create opportunities that will benefit our learners, our neighbourhoods and the wider business economy for years to come. We are now very much looking forward to welcoming our resident and business community back in the spring term for a formal opening and showcase event, where we can truly celebrate what this new space offers to the Boston community.”
