A leading construction company working on Staffordshire University‘s £100 million student village has pledged to create dozens of employment opportunities for local people and firms.
Willmott Dixon has exclusively told Daily Focus that a quarter of its workforce, which will reach around 300 at its peak, will be recruited from within a 10 mile radius of the project – and half within 30 miles.
In addition, the Hertfordshire-headquartered constructon and property services firm has said that any project spend will be allocated in a similar vein, with 25 per cent of orders placed with organisations within a 10-mile radius and 50 per cent within 30 miles.
And in order to support local jobs and businesses and stimulate investment, the supply chain supporting Willmott Dixon in building the village will be predominantly from the area close to the university.
Willmott Dixon’s Operations Manager Kevin Gosney said: “We anticipate that the project will be employing 150 local people at its peak and will create significantly more local job opportunities over the course of the two-year project.”
Due for completion in 2026, the new Student Village on the University’s Leek Road site, in Stoke-on-Trent, will blend contemporary and sustainable architecture with its location close to the university’s nature reserve and the River Trent.
The project is a collaboration between the University and Staffordshire Campus Living: a partnership created by Hochtief PPP Solutions UK and Ireland and Plenary, supported by Pinnacle Group, Wilmott Dixon Construction, and Corstorphine and Wright.
Pledging the commitment to the local workforce Kevin Gosney said: “Willmott Dixon will be delivering many initiatives that drive social value during the construction phase of Staffordshire University’s Student Village project.
“One of the most important commitments is to provide local employment opportunities, which will see 25% of the workforce from within 10 miles of the project and 50% within 30 miles.
“Similarly, to support local jobs and businesses, 25% of total spend will be with organisations located within a 10-mile radius of the project and 50% within 30 miles.
“The supply chain supporting Willmott Dixon in building the village will be predominantly from areas close to the university, allowing substantial investment to go back into the local community.”
Kevin also said Wilmott Dixon would support learning, development and upskilling for local people in the following ways:
- Apprenticeships
- Internships
- Work experience
- Careers workshops
He added: “Using our existing relationship with The Careers & Enterprise Company, we are working with Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Careers Hub to engage with local schools and colleges.
“Through various initiatives, we will engage with those who have not yet considered construction as a career, those who have already started their journey, as well as those who are unemployed and will benefit from re-entering work.
“As a business with firm roots in the Midlands, Willmott Dixon will use its work building Staffordshire University’s Student Village to sustain local jobs, deliver new growth for local companies and upskill many people who live in Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding area, so it can leave a legacy that lasts long after the village’s completion.”
Around 700 new student rooms will be built in cluster blocks and town houses alongside a village ‘hub’ facility. The hub will provide new social and study areas and events and wellbeing spaces, plus a roof-top terrace. An additional 300 rooms are also being refurbished as part of the project in the University’s existing Clarice Cliff Court accommodation.
The start of the ambitious two-year student village project was marked with an official groundbreaking ceremony attended by university leaders, project partners and students.
Afterwards, Professor Martin Jones, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at Staffordshire University, said: “As a University, we will be working with the project partners to demonstrate our commitment to our city region by creating new opportunities for local people.”
Phase one – the Clarice Cliff Court accommodation refurbishment – is expected to be completed by September 2024. The steel frame superstructure for the new student village is set to be in place by Christmas.
