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Music College Gets Funding to Extend Degree Courses on the Island

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Platform One, the Island’s commercial music college, has just signed a contract to receive £129,000 of funding through the Island’s Area Investment Framework.

The money will be used to purchase state of art production and IT equipment for the College and will help Platform One to provide even better facilities for local and mainland students.

Platform One is already known as one of the UK’s leading lights in training for commercial music production with links with other universities and some of the top names in the industry. Currently courses are consistently over subscribed and the additional funding will help the organisation accommodate more students and further improve the quality of training.

David Pontin, Director of Platform One explained, “this funding is fantastic for us, we have set our sights on being the best commercial music college in the UK, which will bring high profile for the Island and new students into the economy. The Island is developing a solid reputation for music, turning out high quality bands and cutting edge sounds – many of them have passed through Platform One.”

Peter Pontin, Director of Platform One added, “this is also very timely, we are planning to expand our teaching space and some of the equipment will be used to fit out the new building and the rest will upgrade some of our existing facilities in our Centre on Dodnor Lane.”

The money is part of a £2.8 million SEEDA funding programme managed by the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership. Graham Biss, Acting Chief Executive of the IWEP said, “one of the key benefits of this particular project is that it raises the standing of the Island – not only as a creative hot bed for musical talent but also as a higher education centre – Platform One is now able to offer Degree courses for locals and is also attracting applications from across the UK because of the high standard of teaching they offer”

The Area Investment Framework is a Funding Programme managed by the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership on behalf of SEEDA. The programme will finish on 31st March 2008. Other projects funded by the AIF include: Construction Training Facilities (Isle of Wight College) Composites Training Facility (Isle of Wight College), Island Build (Ryde Development Trust), Wight Wheels ( Rural Community Council), Medina Estuary Study (Cowes Waterfront / Isle of Wight Council), Medina Valley Project ( Isle of Wight Council) Inspire (IWEP), Opportunities for the Young ( Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Tourism), Gipsy Moth IV (UKSA).

Note to Editor:
All projects put forward for funding through the AIF are put before the Island Strategic Partnership to make sure they fit the aims of the AIF and then before an independent “Funding Approval Board” who examine the technical and business side of the projects.

For more information contact:

Peter Pontin
Director, Platform One
T: 01983 537550 E: info@platformone.org

Pippa Phillips
Marketing & Communications Manager, Isle of Wight Economic Partnership
T: 01983 535819 M; 07967 705697 E: pippa.phillips@iwep.com