THE wonders of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) were showcased in spectacular style at the launch of Bolton College’s new £4.3 million STEM centre.

The state-of-the-art centre, officially opened by Richard Noble OBE, the holder of the land speed record, is the final piece of the college’s transformation into a modern further education site.

Mr Noble used the opening to showcase an interactive version of a 1,000 mph supersonic car — a jet and rocket powered car designed by the Bloodhound group to travel faster than the speed of sound.

Mr Noble, project director, who held the land speed record between 1983 and 1997, said: “The Bloodhound Project's primary aim is to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, so we have a strong synergy with Bolton College’s new STEM Centre. It’s a privilege to open the centre, a school which will facilitate so much exciting learning.”

The Deane Road campus opened in 2010 and from conception to fruition, the STEM project has taken around three years to come together.

It has industry-standard equipment and the latest technology and has been developed because there is currently a lack of vocational STEM progress-ion pathways to higher education and a skill shortage in the economy.

The college now offers more subjects in this field, including applied science and electronics while advancing its engineering and motor maintenance courses to include motor sports and offering them at A-level equivalent stand-ards. More than 1,000 high school pupils have visited the centre to witness a shockwave generated by hydrogen and oxygen balloons, designed and tried their K’NEX Car and seen the Bloodhound Supersonic Car.

Emily Seddon, aged 14, from St James CE School in Farnworth, said: “It was really good to visit the STEM centre and design your own model cars.

“It has been really fun and hands on. I have been interested in this field for a long time, I often go to motor racing with my dad so I find this really interesting.

“This centre looks so modern and new and hopefully it will inspire more girls to get involved with these subjects because they are for everyone and not just for boys.”

Ryan Evans, aged 14, also from St James’ CE Primary School, added: “It has been really good visiting the centre, it shows how interesting these subjects are — before I thought engineering was quite a boring subject.”

Bolton College student Nathan Walling, aged 18, said: “This centre has the latest equipment.

“It is really inspiring to be here, I am doing motor maintenance but here you can take it to the next level and now I would like to be part of the Bloodhound team.”

Fellow student Jun Xiang Chin, aged 18, added: “I feel so privileged to be learning about motor sports here.

“Our tutors always push us and now we have this modern environment to go with that.”

Bolton College also consulted local schools and universities prior to and during the development of the centre.

Applied science student Aarron Grundy, aged 17, said: “I want to go into forensics and it is brilliant to be taught here.

“This new centre is one of the reasons I applied here, it really inspiring.”

Marie Gilluley, Principal and CEO of Bolton College, said: “I’m thrilled that the centre is finally open, and I look forward— along with the college’s partners and stakeholders — to a new STEM-orientated future for Bolton’s young people and current and future workforce.”

Bolton Council’s executive member for regeneration and resources, Cllr Ebrahim Adia, said: “The completion of the building is also a further expansion of the knowledge campus, in the heart of our Innovation Zone. We’re also looking forward to continued growth and investment across Bolton, including the £48 million Transport Interchange.”