Project Taunton Construction Breakfast an Overwhelming Success
The Project Taunton Construction Breakfast held on Fri 12 September proved to be an overwhelming success, with over 120 delegates attending the early morning event. Attendees, representing all areas of the construction industry, listened to a series of presentations from Project Taunton, ConstructionSkills and Somerset College, providing an overview of Taunton's regeneration plans and outlining how local builders and construction firms can capitalise on opportunities.
Kicking off proceedings, Ian Franklin and Mark Green of Project Taunton gave a virtual tour of the town's planned developments and an update on timings. They informed delegates of work that is already underway, such as the flood mitigation scheme, forthcoming announcements, notably the appointment of the Firepool developer, and longer term ambitions, for example a substantial new retail development in the town centre.
Roger Stone OBE of ConstructionSkills updated attendees on the National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC) that will be based on the Firepool site and highlighted the importance of developing a highly skilled sector in the SW, where 1 in 12 people work in construction. This was backed up by presentations from Barbara Bennett, Head of Construction at Somerset College, and Tim Simmons, Sustainable Construction Manager based at The Genesis Centre, who talked about the education opportunities that the College and Centre offer those working in the industry. Tim also highlighted the increasing importance of sustainable practices in construction today, especially as a way of encouraging younger people to consider a career in construction.
Talking about the event, Ian Franklin, Project Director of Project Taunton, said "We're delighted with the tremendous response we had to this event, with places at the Construction Breakfast being snapped up and a full house on the day. As part of our commitment to sustainability, we will be demanding that developers use local firms wherever possible. The town's regeneration is a great opportunity for local people working in construction, whether they are sole traders, small to medium size enterprises or major developers. "
Roger Stone, Strategy Adviser for ConstructionSkills South West, said: "The regeneration of Taunton is a large scale project and is going to generate many opportunities for construction businesses from across the region. The breakfast event was a real success and it was really important to highlight to local construction companies the opportunities available to them, as well as helping to provide them with the information they need to become involved with this project. It is vital that all the construction companies involved with the scheme have the skills to do their job safely and successfully. ConstructionSkills is therefore working very closely with Project Taunton to establish a National Skills Academy for Construction to help provide construction businesses with the correct tools for business development and training to help improve the skills of their workforce."
Neil Higginson - Director of Enterprise at Somerset College's Centre for Enterprise, added: "Our aim is to become the foremost centre for construction training in the SW and we offer a wide range of courses and qualifications that meet the needs of the industry. We are keen to work closely with construction businesses in Taunton to form partnerships that will benefit both the students and the companies themselves, as well as help create a stronger skills culture within the sector."
Project Taunton is a £1billion, 50 hectare town centre regeneration. It is by far the largest town centre development taking place in Somerset and one of the largest in the South West.
The Project Taunton Construction Breakfast was hosted in partnership with The Somerset Centre for Enterprise and Train to Gain.
