Contractor creates more than 100 Coventry jobs

THE contractor on a £100m infrastructure project in Coventry has created more than 100 jobs during the scheme’s initial building phase.

Bowmer & Kirkland had aimed to create 200 local jobs during the construction of One Friargate and as the scheme approaches its mid-point it is already ahead of target with 106 posts filled.

As part of its employment drive, Bowmer & Kirkland has also given young people the opportunity to learn skills by taking on 12 apprentices – three times the number originally anticipated.

In addition to the jobs created directly through the new-build, the company has also generated employment opportunities through the local supply chain.

Bailey Keith, an 18 year old bricklaying apprentice from Coventry, is one of the local people to have benefitted from Friargate through the Coventry and Warwickshire Construction Shared Apprenticeship Scheme. The scheme is run by Coventry City Council in partnership with local colleges and employers – and is only available to people living in the city.

Since May, the teenager has been honing his skills through a variety of tasks.

“I started working at Friargate after being blown away by the size of the development. I was already part of the Shared Apprenticeship Scheme – although I was working on another site at the time – so asked if I could work on Friargate instead,” he said.

Bowmer & Kirkland has been keen to stimulate interest in the scheme among the city’s younger generation and with this aim in mind, it has been inviting local schoolchildren to visit the Friargate site.

Paul Kelly, Friargate project manager at Bowmer & Kirkland, said: “We always try our hardest to give local people first refusal on any jobs that are created as part of our schemes, and do our very best to hit our employment targets.

“At Friargate we are already more than half-way there – this is testament both to the size of the project and the strength of the local work force. It’s particularly pleasing to give young people the chance to learn new skills and I’ve been delighted to welcome a number of apprentices on to the site.

“Despite these fantastic figures, we are not slowing down. We are going to keep working to employ even more local people, making sure the community reaps all of Friargate’s benefits.”

The Friargate development spans 37 acres between Coventry railway station and the city centre. It will transform the city with over 3m sq ft of new space including Grade A offices, hotels, shops and new homes.