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Co-op Live Manchester Delivers Apprenticeships During Construction
Courtesy of Co-op Live – Fern Pritchard is one of the first 10 apprentices employed by Co-op Live.
Pritchard is currently completing her level 6 in project management working on the Co-op Live project, and said, she couldn’t “think of a more exciting project in the country to be working on.”
Co-op Live, the new 23,500-capacity arena in Manchester developed by Pollstar parent company OVG and construction partners BAM, will support a minimum of 100 apprenticeships during the three-year construction phase, as well as establish a new training hub for the local community.
The announcement follows calls by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, an initiative dedicated to boost economic growth in the North of England, for 10,000 additional apprentices to level up the region in order to address growing skills shortages.
The team behind Co-op Live today confirmed, that a wide range of apprenticeships generated by the build of the new arena are already becoming available, with 10 new apprentices working on site.
“Alongside opportunities for apprenticeships in manual trades, such as mechanics, plumbing and electrical work related to the arena’s build, the project will also support technical and professional management roles like quantity surveyors, site managers, audio and visual technicians and other engineers,” the press announcement states.
Apprenticeships will range from level 2 through level 5, which, in the UK, designates degree level work and beyond. BAM’s team will mentor apprentices through the program, and work with subcontractors to ensure there are opportunities for local young people in every aspect of the build.
Since OVG launched its plans for the new arena, employment and training opportunities have been central to its plans to make a positive social impact in Manchester.
The arena’s naming rights partner Co-op Group employs around 1,000 apprentices annually itself.
The construction team has been fully engaged on site at Co-op Live throughout this year. Following last year’s accreditation of Co-op Live as Living Wage venue, all apprentices, and other workers on the site, will be paid the Real Living Wage for their work.
null – Co-op Live, a new 23,000-capacity arena for Manchester, England.
Rendering.
The UK’s Real Living Wage is a voluntary wage paid by currently more than 7,000 UK businesses. It stands at £9.50 ($13) across the UK, with a separate London rate of £10.85 ($14.90).
Fern Pritchard, assistant project manager at Turner & Townsend, is one of the first apprentices on site. Fern started in the industry as a level 4 NVQ apprentice at the age of 18, has worked on multiple construction projects in the North West and, now aged 23, is currently completing her level 6 in project management working on the Co-op Live project.
Mark Donnelly, Chief Operating Officer for OVG International, commented: “We’re committed to maximizing training and employment opportunities during the construction of Co-op Live. It’s brilliant to see the first 10 apprentices working on site and we recognize the role apprenticeships play in up-skilling people, and I’m excited to continue working with BAM and others to deliver 100 apprenticeships who will help bring one of the world’s greatest arenas to Manchester.”
Ian Fleming, BAM’s regional director, added: “These are exciting times for Manchester and for my team across the whole of the North West. As the construction partners for this amazing new arena, our commitment to the city cannot be spelled out any better than by using the work we do to improve local people’s life chances in this way. It’s a brilliant opportunity to give something back to the working life of the city we have built so much of, for so long.”
Fern Pritchard, apprentice at Co-op Live, said: “I’ve found through personal experience over the last five years that apprenticeships are a brilliant way to grow your skillset all while continuing to earn a salary. I’m looking forward to completing my level 6 degree in project management and can’t think of a more exciting project in the country to be working on than Co-op Live.”