VINCI boss says ‘We have loads of connections and will be following them up ‘
How Eden Project Morecambe could look from the promenade(Image: Grimshaw/Eden Project)
The company awarded the main contract to build the Eden Project in Morecambe says they will ensure there are opportunities for smaller firms and young people during the build.
VINCI Construction is to create the Eden attraction on Morecambe’s seafront, where a ground-breaking ceremony was held last week marking the first phase of garden work starting this summer.
The Eden scheme includes two shell-shaped domes, a significant reduction on the four originally planned, and is expected to kickstart Morecambe’s regeneration and the wider regional economy. Eden bosses said the original Eden Project in Cornwall has generated £6.8billion for the local economy over 25 years.
Speaking at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool at an event to celebrate the start of the building phase, VINCI’s Nick Hamer mentioned other large projects that had completed in the region. He said: “With the Blackpool King Street office, 52 per cent of supplier contracts, worth £38m, was spent within 30 miles. And a higher ration went within 50 miles.
“And we have done work all over the north-west including Kendal and Preston. We have loads of connections and will be following them up for Eden in Morecambe.”
VINCI said they had 200 staff and a lot had been with them for many years after completing apprenticeships, HNC courses and day-release courses at university.
People looking at a model of the Eden Project Morecambe at the community conversation event in the Winter Gardens(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Richard Slater, contracts manager, said they hope to employ people from Morecambe on this project.
He highlighted VINCI projects including a Royal Preston Hospital extension, the Radcliffe Civic Hub in Greater Manchester and the One Central Park offices in east Manchester.
He added: “Radcliffe Civic Hub has really transformed the area and got young people into construction, who will hopefully stay with us for a few years.”
On regional economies, Eden Morecambe boss John Pye said: “Over the past 25 years, the Eden Project in Cornwall has attracted 25 million visitors, £630million has been spent locally with suppliers and there has been an economic impact of £6.8billion across the region.
The Eden Project Morecambe community conversation event at the Winter Gardens(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
“Can you imagine what Morecambe will get over 25 years? Eden has really strong local connections in Cornwall and it’s important that we ground this approach in Morecambe too.
“We’ve already held supplier events and people have asked how they can get involved. Now VINCI will be putting a rocket under all that to super-boost our relationships.”
Other organisations involved with Eden include Lancaster & Morecambe College. The ground-breaking ceremony included VIPs posing with a giant 7 ft spade made by college welding and joinery students. It showed their skills including wood splaying of a single piece of timber, taken from a felled tree at the college.
Ryan Williams and Phil Allott of Lancaster & Morecambe College holding a giant spade made by students at the Eden Project Morecambe’s ground-breaking ceremony(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Ryan Williams and Phil Allott head the college’s construction engineering and engineering courses. Ryan said: “The college has been involved with Eden for some time and our work together is going to be hugely important for young people and the town.
The Morecambe Bay Curriculum has been developed and gives a clear route for youngsters through school and college. It has a focus on sustainability including building materials and techniques, recycling and minimising waste.
“Eden will also help us get young people work-ready through work experience and other visits. This will give youngsters important ‘soft skills’, such as communicating and team working, in addition to practical skills and qualifications.
“Also our students want to feel that people care about Morecambe. So there is a lot of positivity about all this and they’re very proud of what’s happening.”
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