Henley College Opens State-of-the-Art Creative Media Hub Following £2.8 Million Refurbishment 

The Henley College officially unveiled its brand new Creative Media Hub this week – a £2.8 million transformation of its former library into a centre for industry-standard film, television, broadcast journalism, music and digital arts education.

Located in the College’s D6 building, just a short walk from Henley town centre, the new hub brings together an impressive range of facilities, including a fully equipped television recording studio, green room, photography dark room, podcast and sound studios, Mac suites, and spacious new classrooms – all fitted with the latest specialist software and hardware used in the creative industries today.

The initial plan for generic classrooms was costed at £1.8 million.

Following the decision to develop a Creative Media Hub instead, the scope of the project expanded considerably. To support this enhanced vision, the College increased its investment, with the final project cost reaching £2.8 million.

The event welcomed governors, staff, students and guests, including The Mayor of Henley, Councillor Rory Hunt, who formally opened the building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and spoke warmly about the scale of ambition the project had achieved. The Mayor had just attended the VE Day 80th anniversary commemorations in the town square and arrived in style at the College, transported in a WWII jeep driven by local videography and photography business owner and military enthusiast Richard Pinches, who runs Meadow Farm Studios in Henley. The College community had observed its own two-minute silence on site, led by Principal Simon Spearman. 

Guests were treated to refreshments and had the opportunity to tour the new facilities before speeches were given. 

The Mayor reflected on the quality of the centre, commenting: 

“I’m genuinely overwhelmed. I was expecting to see a renovated space – not an entirely new creative building on this scale. What’s here is extraordinary, and comparable with facilities I’ve seen at universities. Henley students are incredibly lucky to have this right on their doorstep.” 

The Creative Media Hub will house a wide range of creative and digital qualifications, including UAL Extended Diplomas in Creative Media Production (Film, TV and Radio) and Broadcast Journalism, UAL Music Performance and Production, and A Levels in Media Studies and Photography. These programmes prepare students for a wide variety of creative careers and further study routes, and are led by experienced teachers with strong links to industry and higher education. Students have gone on to study at top institutions or progressed straight into careers in the media, digital, film and music sectors.

Principal Simon Spearman, who joined the College in September, said: 

“This is an incredibly proud day for the College. The Creative Media Hub shows what we stand for – high aspirations, modern facilities, and an education that is both ambitious and practical. It gives our students the tools they need to develop their skills, think independently, and prepare for successful futures in a fast-changing creative world.” 

Curriculum Leader for Creative Media Production, Sarah Wilson, offered heartfelt thanks to the many people who had made the project possible: 

“This space is everything I ever hoped for, and more. I want to say a huge thank you to all the colleagues who helped us get here – particularly the IT and Finance teams – and to Adam Jones, my fellow Media teacher, who has been at my side throughout the whole process. He’s been an absolute rock. I also want to thank Tom McBain, one of our incredible students, who gave up his time today to help us prepare and support the event. We are very proud of him.” 

Mark Griggs, Director of Finance, added: 

“This started as a bold idea, and through the patience and belief of our Board of Governors, it’s now a reality. We’re grateful for their support and hope this space truly transforms the experience of every learner who walks through its doors.” 

The refurbished D6 building has now become the new home for all Creative Media programmes, with the College library relocating to the Rotherfield campus from September to complete the move. This means new students enrolling this autumn will be among the first to take full advantage of the new facilities from day one. 

With a reputation for academic excellence, industry focused teaching and a beautiful location in the heart of the Thames Valley, The Henley College is a leading destination for post-16 study. 

It’s not too late to apply for September 2025. 

 
Apply now at:
www.henleycol.ac.uk/apply/apply-online 

A huge thank you to Peter Marsh Consulting, ArchitecturePLB, Inside Limited Contractors and Butler Signs for their outstanding work on the delivery of this amazing project.

Your attention to detail, professionalism, and commitment to quality have made a real impact. We're so pleased with the results and grateful for your partnership.