IT’S the biggest investment programme Southampton has seen for half a century and Hampshire firms are being invited to see how they can cash in on it.
The £200m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme is set to rebuild or remodel seven secondary schools, improve computer facilities at a further three and revamp four special schools.
City bosses are hailing the huge education investment as a “multi million pound opportunity for Southampton’s economy” and are urging regional players to compete alongside the big national builders for a slice of the work.
As well as building work, there are also opportunities for firms to get involved in the lucrative facilities management and infrastructure aspects of the contracts.
A briefing to detail the opportunities available to the region’s firms is to be held at St Mary’s Stadium on February 3 next year.
The Bidder’s Event, which is being hosted in partnership with Business Southampton, will also offer more detail about the city council’s vision for education, the timeline for procurement and a profile of key school projects.
Sally Lynskey, of Business Southampton, said: “This is a great opportunity for local businesses to become part of the city's school-building programme whether it be helping to build the new schools, fit them out or input on the facilities management.”
Councillor Paul Holmes, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “Building Schools for the Future is not just an opportunity for large national contractors.
We want our programme to invest in both education and the city’s economy, allowing local businesses to get a foot into the supply chain. We are also keen to encourage contractors to create apprenticeships for local people.”
Bitterne Park School, Chamberlayne College for the Arts, St George Catholic College, The Sholing Technology College and Upper Shirley High School are the first five schools to be revamped under the BSF programmme.
The remaining secondary schools and up to four special schools will follow in a future wave of the programme.
For more information
Invitations will be sent out to local and national organisations in the coming week. For more information contact the Building Schools for the Future Team on 023 8091 7601 or email bsf@southampton.gov.uk.
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