The £65million Verena Holmes Building is one of the largest science, technology, engineering, health and medicine education facilities in the South East, and incorporates the Kent and Medway Medical School (KMMS), a joint collaboration between Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Kent. It was officially opened earlier this year by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh.

During her visit she spoke with staff and students from Life Sciences and Engineering, learning about the key work that is helping to attract students to the region to study, as well as supporting businesses with developing a diverse and highly skilled workforce to support for the future economic growth of Kent and Medway.

Rosie said: “I’m astonished by how much work goes on in the building. There are so many labs, so much technology and lots of innovation, as well as a strong connection to sustainability. It’s mind blowing what is going inside these walls. And it is happening here in Canterbury.

“This work is crucial to not only attract businesses to our city, but to stop people leaving when they graduate. They can make their home here, and we can bring innovation, jobs, and business to this area which we really need. This work has the potential to put us on the map as an engineering space, a place that attracts all kinds of talent and it’s really exciting.”

During her visit Rosie also met with Vice-Chancellor Professor Rama Thirunamachandran to discuss further the positive role and contributions that the work of the University and its graduates have upon the region.

Professor Thirunamachandran said: “We’re delighted to welcome Rosie back to our Canterbury campus to discover more about our work supporting our talented students to become the high-skilled graduates that will support Kent and Medway’s growth.”

The Verena Holmes Building is named after Ashford-born Verena Holmes, one of the country’s most pioneering female mechanical engineers, reflecting the University’s ambition to increase diversity and widen opportunities in STEM education and careers.

Built on the former Canterbury Prison site, which the University acquired in 2014, the building houses innovative teaching and research facilities for engineering and technology, health and social care, the Kent and Medway Medical School, life sciences, sport and exercise science, psychology and policing. It has also been designed to be available for use by local technology and engineering firms and is the home to the Kent and Medway Engineering, Design, Growth and Enterprise Hub (EDGE Hub), a partnership between Canterbury Christ Church University and industry.