Firms urged to help complete midland super hospital
Sandwell Business Ambassadors have called on local companies and organisations to apply for procurement opportunities to ensure completion of the stalled Midland Metropolitan Hospital.
The ambassadors, who visited the site this week, have called on the region’s business community to capitalise on the build project’s myriad procurement opportunities, as well as the many auxiliary services once the hospital is completed.
Businesses have also been asked to get involved in a fundraising campaign for the new hospital, which will launch later this year.
Work on the Midland Met, which is around two-thirds built, paused in January 2018 following the collapse of contractors Carillion. It is planned that work will re-start later this year, following a final Government decision on a new contractor.
Last week Gleeds was named project manager on the development, left stranded by Wolverhampton-based Carillion’s collapse last summer, which according to the National Audit Office came at a cost of £148m to the taxpayer.
Gleeds, a global property and construction consultancy which has offices in Birmingham, will be supported by Arup and architect Stride Treglown as works supervisors on behalf of Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.
“As a local business forum, the ambassadors are hugely aware that the Midland Metropolitan Hospital is a major local development for the borough,” said Alan Taylor, Chair of Sandwell Business Ambassadors.
“We want to shine a light on this project to ensure the hospital becomes the best it can be, and we are encouraging local businesses to get involved, however and wherever they can.”
Sandwell Business Ambassadors were given a tour of the super hospital site by Johnny Shah, Head of Your Trust Charity at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust.
The trust has also recommended that Balfour Beatty, who has been onsite carrying out an early works contract since last autumn, be named as the preferred bidder to complete the Midland Met job. Completion of the hospital is due in 2022.
