Miles Templeman, director general of the institute of Directors, oficially opened the new £250,000 business hub at Old Swinford Hospital in Stourbridge, and also unveiled a plaque to the late Bob Michaelson, the former IoD chairman who was instrumental in creating the hub - which will be shared with the wider community to promote better links with business and education.

Parents, teachers and pupils joined with representatives from education and local authority bodies to celebrate the opening of the prestigious new building which has been specially designed to have an office feel. The facility is being used for all forms of business education and the event was also a celebration of the school's success as a Business and Enterprise college.

Mr Templeman said: "Specialist school status has been one of the Government's success storied and Old Swinford Hosptial is a fine example of how this can work really well. All the specialities seem to raise standards but I am particularly keen on business and enterprise which crosses all academic disciplines and has the potential to open the door to exciting career choices."

Headmaster Melvyn Roffe said, "Our business hub is an excellent example of how business and education can work together for the benefit of students, business and the wider community."

Headmaster Melvyn Roffe with Miles Templeman, director general of the Institute of Directors , and students Jonathon Higgins and Alexander Glanville-Wallis