City reaps benefits of major schools scheme
SEWELL Group has spent £43.5m in Hull as a result of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme – money that is predicted to have been re-spent two and a half times in the city.
The Hull-based business has released its latest local and regional economic impact figures following the completion of three more schools as part of Hull’s BSF scheme.
The total construction value of the refurbishments of the existing Newland School for Girls, Frederick Homes School and Ashwell Pupil Referral Unit was just over £16m, of which Sewell spent £12.5m with local companies.
According to the New Economics Foundation, each pound will have been reused in the city 2.73 times.
Sewell Group has encouraged the money invested in these programmes to be reinvested in the city, through the use of a local suppliers and local staff.
On this phase of the BSF programme, Sewell has used over 200 local companies to provide materials or labour.
Paul Sewell, managing director, said: “When we were appointed to deliver these schools as part of Hull Esteem Consortium, we promised as a local company that we would leave a legacy. I’m extremely proud of the commitment everyone working on these schools has shown to deliver quality products.
“But our legacy is much more than fantastic facilities around the city; it’s how we’re supporting the city through the use of local companies and local people.”
He added: “When we’re appointed to deliver a development, whether that be a new facility or a small scale refurbishment, we reinvest locally. That starts with the 350 local people that we employ directly. They’ll spend their wages locally so the pound stays in Hull.
“We also work with over 500 local SMEs across the business. We’ll work with a local plumbing firm for example, they’ll buy their supplies from another local company and they’ll hire local plumbers, who then re-spend their wages in local bars, restaurants and shops; and again it re-circulates.
“Sewell has now spent £43.5m locally through the BSF programme and that money is predicted to have been re-spent two and a half times in the city, so the ripple effect is enormous.”
