Regeneration agency keen to steer business to local firms

A HULL-based building firm has benefited from a commitment to use local labour by winning the first slice of a 100m regeneration contract.

Wrights Civil Engineering will carry out 500,000 of improvements to the entrance of West Park, where work is set to start next month.

Neighbourhood regeneration agency Gateway, and its partners Keepmoat Homes and Construction Works, are inviting tenders for work on the redevelopment of the Newington and St Andrew’s wards in West Hull.

While their chief criteria remain the quality and price of bids, Gateway gave a pledge to use city firms where possible.

It is inviting companies who would like to bid to find out more at an event at The Village Hotel in Hessle next Wednesday.

Pauline Davis, strategic director for Gateway, said: “Gateway is committed to the use of local labour on our developments and we are very keen to engage with companies from across the city at this event.

“It offers local firms, both big and small, a chance to express an interest and tender for work.”

The event will begin at 4pm with presentations from Construction Works, Keepmoat and Gateway, and there will also be information to assist anyone from sole contractors to large companies on how to proceed.

Rachael Fairburn, supply chain co-ordinator at Construction Works, said: “The event is designed to make sure the work on this very important programme is kept as local as possible and is part of an on-going commitment to the local workforce.

“Information and support for all those interested in tendering will ensure local companies can be successful and can be involved in the transformation of their city.”

Councillor Rick Welton, portfolio holder for regeneration at Hull Council, said the appointment of Hull-based companies would help kick-start the city’s economy.

He said: “I am pleased to see local companies being offered the chance to work on the city’s regeneration. It is vital that we support the local economy and this is just one way in which we are working to achieve this.”

Anyone wanting to attend can email Rachael Fairburn at [email protected].

The work is part of a 400m regeneration scheme in the two wards.