Wates Construction has highlighted the benefits being brought to Nottingham as the construction of the new Nottingham College City Hub campus accelerates past the halfway point.

Through construction of the £58m educational facility – set to accommodate 2,000 students each year when it opens in September 2020 – Wates has created a host of employment and training opportunities for young people and supported a range of local businesses and community groups.

Over 80% of the entire City Hub supply chain has been sourced from businesses within a 40 mile radius of the site and just under 25% of the full £23,881,187 supply chain spend was sourced from within a 10 mile radius.

Wates has also enlisted the support of a range of social enterprises (SEs) to help deliver the project, including Recycling Lives, Nuneaton Signs Ltd and Radiant Cleaners Ltd, all of which have benefited from the total SE investment figure currently standing at over £61,000.

All of these efforts form part of the project's procurement via Major Works – UK, part of Scape's National Construction framework. The framework has been specifically designed to deliver significant levels of local economic engagement, ongoing apprenticeship schemes and extensive community initiatives.

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John Carlin, Managing Director of Wates Construction Midlands, said: "From the outset of the Nottingham City Hub build, we have been focused upon supporting the college's employability ambitions and also ensuring the wider Nottingham community benefits from our presence on site.

"Built into our company ethos is a commitment to provide tangible, economic and social impacts that can truly be felt at all levels. As a result of our varied activities here in Nottingham, we know that when the City Hub campus opens next September, we will leave behind a legacy that extends far beyond this fantastic building."

Nottingham College CEO John van de Laarschot said: "We're proud to play our part in the regeneration of a significant area of our city centre, improving not only the economic prosperity of the Southside zone but leaving a fantastic lasting legacy for further education in Nottingham. Before the project started it was always our intention to create many employability opportunities for students and give young people across the City the chance to experience the sheer scale of the build and I am pleased we have been able to do this."

Mark Robinson, Scape Group Chief Executive, added: "This is a very important project for Nottingham College as investing in further and higher education remains a key priority to ensuring the educational future of our young people. By procuring this project with Scape, Nottingham College is guaranteeing certainty that the City Hub will be delivered with efficiency and real social value embedded at its heart."

With week 80 of 117 now underway, Nottingham residents will observe finishing touches to the building taking place over the coming weeks, including the installation of windows and exterior cladding.

(MH/JG)