Meet the buyer event in Liverpool next week
Construction firms in Liverpool are inviting 200 local subcontractors to bid for a slice of the £1bn of regeneration work taking place in the city.
Major contractors involved in major regeneration projects are holding a special event at Liverpool Town Hall on Tuesday 19 September, at which they will inform local businesses about opportunities over the next 12 months.
It has been organised by the Liverpool Regeneration Contractors’ Group, which is aimed at maximising the number of jobs and apprenticeships created in the city, so that as much of the work on projects in Liverpool goes to local businesses.
The Supply Chain Engagement Event will see BAM, Galliford Try, ISG, Kier, Laing O’Rourke, Morgan Sindall, Willmott Dixon and the city council’s procurement team coming together with the city council’s employment arm Liverpool in Work to showcase what is on offer.
Projects being showcased include new schools, hospitals, Lime Street, Paddington village and many more.
Deputy mayor, Cllr Ann O’Byrne, who will attend the event, said: “This is a hugely exciting time for the city’s regeneration and it is absolutely vital we help local firms secure sub-contracting work by putting them in the same room as the construction companies.
“We have had great success in insisting that firms we issue contracts to meet tough targets around local spending and with some of our new schools more than 85 percent of the contract has been spent with firms based in the city region, securing their future and enabling them to take on more staff.
“At a time when public sector funding is being squeezed massively, it is more essential than ever that the money we spend is pumped back into the local economy, putting money into the pockets of local workers.”
The LRCG is seen as a trailblazer and is focusing on developing a blueprint for others to follow, which can be replicated in other areas of the region.
Places can still be booked by emailing lynne.debbazi@liverpool.gov.uk
Not one single Liverpool construction company on the list, all the big boys yet again!!
By cynicalbuilder
It might be a tough time in the public sector, however (outside Liverpool, at least) the UK is booming as global money seeks out what has to date been known as a safe and reliable economy. Look at Manchester, where we often see Liverpool’s politicians putting in appearances at various northern powerhouse roadshows.
Is it a council’s job to demand that contracts go locally, benefitting private industry? Or is it a council’s job to demand that money is well spent, best value and going to those with both a track record for delivery and a public history?
One route establishes a place as a reliable and safe place to invest, safeguarding jobs for the future though investment based growth. The other does nothing for Liverpool’s taxpayers, and would be no excuse if contracts end up landing in the wrong laps.
By Mike