Getting Connected in Accrington
Morgan Sindall hosted a Getting Connected event at Accrington Town Hall in partnership with Hyndburn Borough Council to strengthen its local supply chain and promote employment opportunities in the area.
Approximately 200 people attended the event which was organised by Morgan Sindall to support its work on the £20m regeneration of Accrington Town Square, which involves the refurbishment of three prominent buildings in the town including the Victorian Market Hall now underway.
Local subcontractors, suppliers, social enterprises, and job seekers in Accrington and the wider area of Hyndburn came along to meet Morgan Sindall, its supply chain family and support partners to gain insight into the exciting opportunities this scheme presents.
The Event
The event included presentations from Morgan Sindall Framework Manager Jason Ward and Contracts Manager Ben Wolstenholme who introduced the company and outlined the upcoming project scopes and trade packages to be procured.
Morgan Sindall’s Senior Social Value Manager Gill Roberts provided advice on how to access the opportunities on the project and explained the type of services and support offered by the exhibitors in the room.
Councillor Mohammed Younis shared Hyndburn Borough Council’s vision for Accrington as a modern market town and provided an overview of the wider masterplan of development in the town. Councillor Zak Khan detailed Hyndburn’s priorities for the masterplan, which include sustainable growth, protecting the environment and involving the community. Both councillors reinforced the importance of local procurement and employment on the Accrington Town Square construction works.
The remainder of the event involved networking between exhibitors and attendees, facilitating valuable connections which will add value to the Accrington Town Square project and beyond.
Accrington Town Square’s transformational projects have been made possible through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. For further information about the Accrington Town Square projects, head to Home - Accrington Town Square.
support from our partners
The event was supported by members Morgan Sindall's supply chain family – Marshalls, Crown Paint, CEF, AkzoNobel, Sunbelt Rentals, Nuneaton Signs, IKO, Forbo, SIG, Encon and Sika. Many of these approved national suppliers and manufacturers had live employment and apprenticeship opportunities currently being recruited for in the local area.
The occasion also witnessed support from Local Supply Chain (LSC), Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub Boost and and East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. These partners provided valuable insight into business growth strategies and the help available to help access the upcoming opportunities in the region.
Job Centre Plus, Accrington & Rossendale College and Morgan Sindall’s Labour Desk lent their expertise in training and recruitment, generating a positive synergy between local job seekers and businesses looking to recruit and up-skill staff in readiness for the forthcoming pipeline of work.
Cllr Mohammed Younis, Portfolio Holder for Levelling Up, said:
Our plan for the regeneration of Accrington Town Square is to ensure everyone benefits, including our local community, businesses, and suppliers. Teaming up with Morgan Sindall as our construction partner is a crucial part of this plan and I thank them for their support so far. With their help, we're confident we will make a success of this project. The Getting Connected event today supports our joint commitment to creating jobs right here in our town and spreading the positive impact throughout our community. I look forward to working together with you all to make this town great again.”
Cllr Zak Khan, Cabinet Member for Economic Dev & Sustainability said:
One of Hyndburn Borough Council’s priorities is Sustainable Growth, and the scheme underway right now represents the beginning of a masterplan for Accrington which will span for over 10 years. The event today is not just about gaining opportunities on one project, it’s about getting local supply chains geared up to benefit from the next one and the next one after that. We’re also here today to meet local people and listen to your ideas for the town. I’m delighted to see so many people here today and I’m sure you will support us in bringing the vision for Accrington to life.”
Dermot Hegarty, Key Account Manager, SIKA said:
SIKA are a global manufacturer of a wide range of state-of-the-art systems covering construction products, industrial manufacturing, automotive manufacturing and DIY products ranges. We are part of Morgan Sindall’s supply chain family, which means that we have a close partnership with them nationally. We have a very strong local presence and manufacturing facility in Preston, Lancashire. We also have some vacancies, including apprenticeships, which we are currently recruiting for so I’m really excited to be part of this event today.”