Morgan Sindall Construction has celebrated the reaching of two landmark moments in its delivery of an enabling works package and Multi-Storey Car Park and Cycle Hub (MSCP) as part of the total redevelopment of the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) site.
Acting on behalf of Morgan Sindall Construction, contractor PP O’Connor recently began the demolition of Limbert House as part of the first phase of transforming the Crumpsall site. This included the Limbert House Nurses’ Home and the infectious diseases unit.
In tandem with the progress in the build programme, Morgan Sindall Construction’s accompanying social value plan for North Manchester has reached a pivotal moment with the launch of its latest Knowledge Quad.
The Knowledge Quad is a multi-purpose training and learning facility located within a live Morgan Sindall Construction site. It delivers value by undertaking activity focusing on the four key areas of skills, education, employment and discovery.
The Knowledge Quad also creates a vital link between industry and education, ensuring that curriculums align with employer requirements and that students, trainees and apprentices at all levels are provided with the relevant knowledge and skills to help them succeed.
The Knowledge Quad concept began at Morgan Sindall Construction’s £150m Paddington Village multi-project site in Liverpool City Council’s Knowledge Quarter, the scale of which enabled a substantial investment into tackling the worsening skills gap in construction and maximising the socio-economic value of the development.
It provided employment pathway programmes for underrepresented groups including UK veterans, pre-employment skills workshops and numerous schools, college and university engagement sessions. The concept has now been replicated nationally with three live facilities currently located in the North West region.
NMGH - located in Crumpsall, 3.5 miles outside Manchester city centre - is one of eight Pathfinder hospitals being built through the Government’s New Hospital Programme, which is providing an initial £3.7bn to deliver 40 new hospitals across the country by 2030.
NMGH is at the heart of an exciting vision to improve health and wellbeing for local people over the next 10 to 15 years. Alongside health and care services fit for the 21st century, the redevelopment will provide the employment, housing and economic opportunities that are key to generating long term growth and prosperity for North Manchester.
The project, led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust with Manchester City Council and Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, will not only provide essential redevelopment to an estate which is in critical need of investment but also serve as a catalyst for the wider economic regeneration of North Manchester.
The Knowledge Quad forms part of Morgan Sindall Construction’s Social Value Plan which will provide significant investment into the local community. The plan, as well as addressing the specific local context and requirements of North Manchester, will also support the Greater Manchester Living with Covid Resilience Plan. The Social Value Plan also includes:
Partnerships with local schools such as North Ridge High School that will support pupils with their personal and academic development to help them to make career choices that are right for the individual, their industry of choice and the community in which they live and work.
A focus on young people, apprentices, those who need re-skilling/re-training and newly and longer term unemployed people.
Integration with the hospital and local community, supporting social enterprises, social groups and charities such as the We Love Manchester charity, to ensure the area’s diverse local population is fully engaged with the educational, employment and health opportunities available as a result of the enabling works taking place.
A commitment to contribute to the city’s net zero ambitions.
Shaun Jones, Greater Manchester area director for Morgan Sindall Construction said:
“Upon our appointment to this significant redevelopment last year, we made clear that we saw our role not just to help reshape the hospital infrastructure but to also do what we could to deliver social and economic change as a result of our work and to support the local recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The launch of the Knowledge Quad is a key element of how we will do just that. Our team knows how these facilities can be used as a means to help people take advantage of the many routes to a rewarding career that construction and related industries have to offer. Having delivered projects in North Manchester before and through our engagement with the local community, we will deliver targeted programmes with local partners to provide courses and programmes that will reach those who will most benefit from our help. The USP of the Knowledge Quad is that it offers learning within a live construction environment.
We’re now seeing exciting progress on our build programme, with the recent demolition demonstrating we’re entering an exciting stage of what is a hugely significant programme for North Manchester.”
Ian Lurcock, chief executive of North Manchester General Hospital, added:
“We are delighted to be able to host the Knowledge Quad at NMGH. It offers such an exciting opportunity to inspire local young people as they progress into working life and build careers. It’s a key part of MFT’s commitment to improving health and wellbeing across the local community.”
Lizz Lee, social value manager, Procure Partnerships, said:
“With the minimum Social Value Add equating to £2.76M (12%) of the overall project value; Morgan Sindall’s approach to clear planning and measurable outcomes is exemplary. Showing a clear knowledge and understanding of the positive impact that can be made by an organisation during construction, the Knowledge Quad showcases an innovative approach.”