Paradise generates scores of construction jobs
Phase one of the £700m development of Birmingham Paradise has helped to create almost 100 new construction jobs – with more set to follow.
With more than 280,000 hours now worked on site, the Paradise development has so far seen the creation of 44 apprenticeships across 30 different trades as well as 79 work placements directly related to the development.
The figures have been obtained from Carillion, contractor for the infrastructure works and One Chamberlain Square.
Up to 50 new jobs are expected to be created by contractor BAM when the construction of Two Chamberlain Square gets underway in December.
Rob Groves, Regional Director at Argent, said: “As part of the delivery of this transformative redevelopment as a new destination at the heart of Birmingham city centre, we are committed to supporting local employment and giving the surrounding community an opportunity to help shape the new development.
“With One and Two Chamberlain Square now clearly visible and growing at pace and the public realm improvements well underway, we are already looking ahead to future phases of the development and will of course continue to employ local people across all disciplines.”
Highlighting its commitment to supporting the local community, over 50% of the new jobs have been filled by local people living within 10 miles of the Paradise development, whilst a number of employees have joined the site team through the Business in the Communities ‘Ready for Work’ programme, which aims to provide employment opportunities for those struggling to find work or facing boundaries to entering the workplace.
Simon Dingle, Operations Director at Carillion, said Carillion was committed to ensuring employment opportunities within the construction industry were offered both to young people from Birmingham.
He said: “It is incredibly rewarding to look back at the employment figures and see just how many local opportunities have been created, from apprenticeships that have turned into full-time roles, to people coming through the ‘Ready for Work’ programme who have previously struggled to find meaningful employment and we hope to see many of our recruits onsite at Paradise and across the region, developing their skills.”
The first phase of the Paradise project includes 355,000 sq ft of office space – 90,000 sq ft of which has been let to PwC. Enhancements to the public realm in Chamberlain Square will complete in 2018, whilst One and Two Chamberlain Square will complete in 2019.
The project team is now preparing to submit a detailed planning application for One Centenary Way, a further office building which will provide around 290,000 sq ft including ground floor uses and will represent the first building in the development’s second phase.
