Healthcare focus sees architect secure new business

A BRIDGNORTH architect has secured new work with the NHS after focusing on the healthcare sector; a focus that could see the practice take on new people.

Johnson Design Partnership (JDP), which employs eight people, is one of just eight practices to be approved by the Sandwell & West Birmingham NHS Hospitals Trust.

This agreement allows JDP to be selected for a range of projects every year, including hospitals and medical centres across Birmingham, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire.

The focus on the healthcare sector has contributed to the growth of the firm and seen it secure business worth more than £2.1m. The work has involved the design of a simulation suite, tuberculosis clinic and a groundbreaking transport and discharge suite.

The practice is also involved in a number of ongoing maternity refurbishments and feasibility studies on patient circulation routes.

Vic Johnson, Founder of Johnson Design Partnership, said: “This is the second time we have been awarded on to a significant NHS Trust Framework tender and, with 180 companies taking part, the competition was fierce.

“I’m delighted to say we were chosen as one of the eight architects and we believe we may be the only one in Shropshire. This puts us in an ideal position to win future projects that will be awarded between June 2013 and May 2015.”

He said securing such work would hopefully raise the firm’s profile in the Midlands and lead to other high profile opportunities.

“If we continue to win projects, there will definitely be the need to take on new skilled people to cope with the additional demand,” he said.