Construction firm wins largest-ever Derby contract

Derby-based Hodgkinson Builders has won the brickwork contract for one of the biggest schemes the city has seen in recent times.

Pride Park-based Hodgkinson Builders will construct the brickwork for the landmark apartment building on the site of the former Debenhams store in Derby’s Victoria Street.

The 11-storey, red brick building, forms part of an extensive £200m regeneration development of the city’s Becketwell area around Duckworth Square.

Hodgkinson moved onto the site last week to begin the 12-month job of building one of the tallest and most long-awaited structures in Derby.

Owner and managing director Ian Hodgkinson said: “It will certainly be a landmark building for Derby. It’s a hugely prestigious job for us – and to be given the opportunity to build this in my hometown is immense.

“It’s a genuine legacy. Something we can see every day and will always be proud of doing for Derby.”

Hodkinson said that the work, commissioned by the Becketwell regeneration project’s main contractor GMI Construction, would not only provide lots of work for his skilled team, but would also provide an opportunity for training apprentices.

He added: “Given the sheer size of the project and the length of time we will be working on it, a good apprentice could, in theory, learn their trade on this job alone.

“With skills shortages in almost every area of construction, we’ll certainly be taking every opportunity we can to bring more young people into the trade. It will benefit the construction industry as a whole, as well as increasing the skill-base in Derby city.”

He added that Hodgkinsons Builders was now looking to recruit a number of apprentices now that the contract had got underway.

The former Debenhams site will eventually house 259 apartments – with a mixture of studios, one- and two-bed units. The area’s overall regeneration is also set to include a 3,500-capacity performance venue, offices, multi-storey car park and a public square on the site of the now-demolished Central United Reformed Church.