Co-op HQ provides £17m boost to local firms

MANCHESTER’S construction sector has benefitted to the tune of around £17m from construction of the Co-op’s HQ, according to main contractor BAM Construction.

The company, which is part of Dutch-owned Royal BAM Group, has placed orders with subcontractors in the area worth £8m during the £100m development, while some £9m of products were sourced locally.

BAM said that it had now racked up more than 1m man hours on the site, and that over 50% of the workforce on the 495,000 sq ft building were from the Greater Manchester area. Among the local firms used were Chartrange for fill materials, McCrory’s of Cheadle for Brickwork and Adana in Stockport for groundworks.

Tony Grindrod, BAM’s construction manager, said: ‘Being an ethical trader, our client is determined that the building is exemplary in both its local benefits and its environmental excellence.

“BAM has set out to deliver a programme of human investment here at the Co-operative HQ that goes even further than they’ve asked, and we’re thrilled that it’s showing some real benefits for the people who live and work here.”