Former Clyde shipyard chief executive, Vic Emery, has been appointed Chair of the New Glasgow Campus project.

Mr Emery takes the lead role in the £300m plus project to create a supercampus for the 50,000 students and 2,000 staff of Central, Metropolitan, Nautical and Stow Colleges.

He will lead the New Campus Glasgow Board and will be charged with delivering what is one of the country’s biggest education infrastructure projects. Building work is scheduled to start in 2011.

"This will be a hugely challenging project, delivering a state-of-the-art learning environment to further enhance Glasgow’s role as a leading centre of further education, while at the same time continuing to deliver first class learning during the construction phase," said Mr Emery.

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"We aim to deliver world class learning - with style - and want to create the kind environment that will attract the very best talent to Glasgow."

Former head of BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions, Vic was responsible for transforming the Scotstoun and Govan yards during his five years in charge. At his appointment in 2003 the yards employed fewer than 2,000 people and turned over around £300 million, on his retirement last year they employed more than 4,000 and had an order book worth £2.2 billion.

"My commitment to skills and training is well documented," he said. "When I took over the Clyde yards there were virtually no apprenticeships. By the time I left we had taken on more then 500 and become the largest single private sector employer of modern apprentices in the country."

Programme Sponsor, Donald Leitch said he was "delighted" to welcome someone with the experience and track record of success that Vic brings.

(GK/JM)