Hillsborough-headquartered GRAHAM has formally handed back the Northland Building at North West Regional College (NWRC) in Derry/Londonderry, marking the successful completion of a 27-year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) partnership that has delivered long-term value to education, industry and regional economic development in the North West.
The asset return is a rare milestone in Northern Ireland’s PPP history and follows a final joint inspection and handover meeting between senior representatives from GRAHAM, BBGI and NWRC.
Originally conceived through the strategic leadership of Andrew Bill, CEO of GRAHAM and the late Brendan Devlin, MD of GRAHAM Facilities Management, in partnership with NWRC, the Northland Building was designed to deliver a modern, future-ready education facility capable of supporting evolving learning needs.
Under the agreement, Northwin Limited (GRAHAM/Farrans/McGinnis Group) entered into a long-term partnership with the College to design, build, finance and operate the building, supported by GRAHAM Facilities Management and GRAHAM Investment Projects Limited.
Over the full concession period, the building has remained a high-performing asset, with sustained investment ensuring its evolution.
One of the building’s most striking developments is the College’s award-winning Foodovation Centre, now a regional centre of excellence for food innovation and technology. The facility supports small and medium-sized producers through research, development and commercialisation, helping more than 140 businesses in the past six years alone and driving measurable innovation, job creation and economic growth across the North West.
Continuous investment followed to support the College’s development with a major 2017 ground-floor reconfiguration introducing the Herb Garden, Coffee Dock, Bistro and Brasserie, while further projects in 2019 and 2020 expanded digital learning and business support infrastructure. Today, the award-winning Business Support Centre sits at the heart of the building, proving the College’s role as a hub for workforce development, enterprise engagement and regional skills growth.
Another defining moment in the history of the PPP was in 2015, when ownership transferred from Northwin Limited to BBGI, with GRAHAM Investment Projects Limited retained to provide project management support.
Throughout the full 25-year operational lifecycle, GRAHAM Facilities Management delivered planned, reactive and lifecycle maintenance services to exceptionally high standards. The result is a building that continues to perform as a modern educational environment for students and industry.
Andrew Bill, CEO at GRAHAM said: “The Northland Building stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when vision, collaboration and long-term commitment come together. From its inception through ownership transitions, daily operations, continuous enhancement and lifecycle care, this project has been defined by extraordinary teamwork and shared purpose. As this partnership draws to a close, we want to thank our partners at North West Regional College and all those involved for the trust and collaboration shown throughout. It has been a privilege to deliver and maintain a facility that continues to support education, industry and regional growth, and we hope to work together again on future ventures.”
Leo Murphy, NWRC Principal and Chief Executive, commented:
“Our purpose at North West Regional College is to ‘make lives better’ creating a great place for staff and students to work and learn. We are delighted with the partnership provided by GRAHAM which has allowed us to strengthen and develop our portfolio of learning, as well as supporting the operational needs of our curriculum faculties, support teams, and students.
“The Northland Building at NWRC has been home to thousands of learners since 2001, and also the College’s Business Support Team who have gone on to support industry both locally and regionally though their innovation centres and skills development courses.
“On behalf of the College, I offer my thanks to GRAHAM and their staff for their work and commitment to NWRC during the past two decades.”
Alison McDonnell, Director of Northwin Limited (BBGI) added: “As we hand back this asset, we do so with genuine pride in what has been achieved together. This journey stands as a textbook example of how a PFI should work in practice. From day one, this was never simply a contractual arrangement — it was a long-term collaboration built on trust, professionalism, and a shared commitment to delivering lasting value for the public.
“The smooth, well-prepared transition we are seeing today did not happen by chance. It is the result of decades of consistent stewardship, careful planning, and the dedication of countless individuals across both the public and private partners. It demonstrates that when risk, responsibility, and reward are structured thoughtfully — and relationships are managed with integrity — PFIs can deliver not just infrastructure, but long-term resilience, value for money, and strong public outcomes. This handback is not the end of a transaction; it is the successful completion of a shared mission. And it leaves behind not only a well-maintained asset, but also a legacy of partnership that sets a benchmark for other PFI projects.”
Today, the Northland Building houses a range of specialist facilities, including lecture theatres, media and journalism studios, IT and gaming labs, health and social care training suites, travel and tourism facilities, the Flying Clipper Brasserie, Barista Café and business development spaces. These facilities have supported thousands of learners and strengthened the College’s engagement with industry over the years.
The successful conclusion of the PFI concession represents not just the end of a contract, but the culmination of a long-term partnership that has consistently prioritised educational excellence, operational resilience and regional impact.