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Happy Christmas from the Ellesmere Port Hub

Large scale investment projects like The Ellesmere Port Hub building and Chester’s Northgate project bring long term benefits for residents and the wider economy.

They also bring a period of living and working close by a building site. To help reduce the inconvenience from projects of this scale they include an element from the contractor to ‘give back to the community’. 

Vinci Construction UK Ltd are working on both Ellesmere Port and Chester projects and since the start of the projects they have been working with the local community to identify areas that they can help. 

For young people considering the construction industry for a future career, online talks have taken place with Ellesmere Port students. Pre COVID it would also have been possible to welcome students for site visits and see first-hand what a building site is like and understand the many different roles involved. 

Whilst COVID has made some of the ‘Social Value’ activities more challenging, regular meetings take place to consider additional small jobs in the community that the skilled workforce can help with including the recent installation of a community defibrillator in Chester.  

A donation of £200 was given to Crabwell Hall Care Home to support the purchase of a new Christmas tree, including decorations. The Lord Mayor of Chester, Councillor Mark Williams officially turned on their Christmas lights. 

The Vinci team visited West Cheshire Foodbank at Stanney Mill Industrial Estate, Ellesmere Port today (18 December) to drop off some Christmas provisions.

The donations are from subcontractors Ruttles, Quantity Surveyor Gleeds, in addition to money raised from a Christmas jumper day and donations from the site office staff in Ellesmere Port. 

Councillor Carol Gahan, Cabinet Member for Legal and Finance said: “Thanks go to the Vinci Construction team, I’m sure their donations will be very welcome.

“The Vinci team met up with our local Fire Service and Ambulance Depot in October following a burst water main caused by subcontractors who hit a water pipe during works, they delivered bottled water and cakes to say sorry for the inconvenience.” 

From painting rooms in community buildings to helping on parks projects, there are a number of projects being considered for the New Year as the workforce increases on site in Ellesmere Port. 

The Council works closely with Vinci Construction UK Ltd to ensure as many local jobs as possible are available. This started early in the year with a Meet the Buyer event to inform local businesses about future requirements. The Council’s Workzone will be matching job seekers with available work and offering construction training to ensure the future job opportunities can be filled by local residents. 

Added Councillor Gahan: “The first phase of the Ellesmere Port project had a very small workforce but did employ three local people, this is expected to increase as construction starts. Apprentices have already started work with the Northgate project in Chester and we expect there will be apprentice opportunities in Ellesmere Port as well. Let’s start 2021 on a positive foot with new job opportunities for residents.” 

The first phase of the £16m Ellesmere Port investment was completed in November with the opening of the new bus interchange.

The old bus station has now been demolished allowing work to start on the new hub building that will be completed by the end of next year.

The new hub building, and bus zone are part of the Ellesmere Port Masterplan, a 15-year vision for Ellesmere Port.

The new hub provides the most cost-effective solution to the provision of council and partner services in the town when compared with the alternative of refurbishing Civic Way offices which will be demolished as part of the wider masterplan proposals. This space will then be made available for new housing for families and young professionals to live in the town.

The Government’s Local Growth Fund is funding half of the £16 million project through the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.

Local Growth Fund

Local Enterprise Partnerships are playing a vital role in driving forward economic growth across the country, helping to build a country that works for everyone.

By 2021 the Government will have invested over £12bn through the Local Growth Fund, allowing LEPs to use their local knowledge to get all areas of the country firing on all cylinders.

Some additional key facts:

  • There are 38 LEPs covering the whole of England
  • The government has awarded £9.1bn in three rounds of Growth Deals to local areas to drive economic growth.
  • LEPs are investing in a wide range of projects including transport, skills, business support, broadband, innovation and flood defences.

Northern Powerhouse

Some Northern Powerhouse key facts:

  • The Northern Powerhouse is a key aspect of this Government’s approach to addressing the productivity gap in the North and ensuring a stronger, more sustainable economy for all parts of the UK.
  • The government has awarded £3.4bn in three rounds of Growth Deals across the Northern Powerhouse.

Pictured - Cameron Hayes and Joanna De Lima from Vinci at Ellesmere Port Food Bank.

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