Media, music and performing arts business LMA, co-owned by pop superstar Robbie Williams, is opening its third Liverpool campus at Metquarter and creating 100 jobs. Tony McDonough reports
A £15m media, music and performing arts academy is to be set up in Liverpool city centre by a company co-owned by pop superstar Robbie Williams.
LMA, which already operates two Liverpool campuses – in Hope Street and Duke Street – says its new facility will be located in upmarket shopping mall, Metquarter, in the heart of the city’s retail district. It is also creating 100 new jobs.
It will take a 50,000 sq ft space at the the centre in Whitechapel to set up the new campus. The move has been driven by a surge in applications from prospective students across the country wanting to study at LMA.
The organisation offers post-16 btec qualifications and post-18 degree courses, spanning music; musical theatre; dance; acting; film and TV production; and games art and animation. As part of the expansion plans, LMA is also creating more than 100 new jobs for industry experienced individuals to join its teaching team. It is currently recruiting for roles across all subject areas.
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The former Take That singer, who became a co-owner of the business in 2019 after being wowed by its choir on The X Factor, said: “Since meeting the LMA Choir two years ago and later joining the LMA family, I’ve been constantly inspired by their sheer drive, dedication and passion.
“Liverpool is known for being home to some amazing talent and LMA is testament to that. I’m so proud to be part of its incredible journey, especially as the staff and students take their next steps in expanding across the city.”
The new campus is part of LMA’s wider expansion plans, which also includes its arrival in London later this year. Located at creative hub Here East on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the site is set to launch in September and will be LMA’s first to open outside of Liverpool.
Richard Wallace who created LMA with brother Simon in 2008, said: “We’ve been working for some time to find the perfect location in the city centre that would house our world class facilities for students and staff, and Metquarter is absolutely ideal for us.
“Not only is it right in the heart of the city centre, but the building itself gives us a lot of freedom to create an extremely unique learning space where our students can study and hone their craft.
“There is a lot of potential for what we can do at the site to help inspire students and give them unique opportunities to explore their passion and creativity, whether that’s on stage or screen, behind the camera, in the recording studio or creating the next big gaming sensation.”
Plans for the new campus include state-of-the-art film studios, dance studios, music rehearsal rooms, classrooms and recording studios.
The Metquarter has had new life injected into it over the past 18 months with a major refurbishment and new occupiers including Everyman Cinema alongside fashion stalwarts Cricket and Kids Cavern.