Birley FieldsMay 2013 Newsletter

The development of the new £139mBirley Fields campus continues at pace.Since our last newsletter, contractorsSir Robert McAlpine have completedthe majority of the frame for thestriking academic building and havestarted installing the cladding on themulti-storey car park and energy centre.

GB Building Solutions, the contractors for the student accommodation, havecompleted much of their site preparationwork and their office cabins alongStretford Road are now in place as work begins in earnest.

For more details about what work toexpect on site throughout May, take a look inside.

In this issue, we also bring you the latestnews about local employment andtraining opportunities, community newsand forthcoming events.

Our commitment As a University we are committed tobeing a good and responsible neighbour.Alongside our partners, Manchester CityCouncil, Sir Robert McAlpine and GBBuilding Solutions we will keep youupdated on progress, as well as anypotentially sensitive works, which mayaffect you throughout the delivery of the Birley Fields campus.

We will always try to keep the impact ofour work on the local community to aminimum but would appreciate your

continuing patience and support as thesite develops. Both contractors areregistered with the ConsiderateConstructors Scheme and are monitoredagainst a Code of Considerate Practice,designed to encourage the highest of standards.

For more information, visit their websiteat www.ccscheme.org.uk.

Progress at Birley Fields

Working in partnership with

www.mmu.ac.uk/birleyfields

Aerial image of Academic building, April 2013

During May Sir Robert McAlpine willbe undertaking the following works:

n Completion of the Academic Buildingconcrete frame construction

n Commencement of the AcademicBuilding envelope installation

n Commencement of the AcademicBuilding service installations

n On-going installation of the energycentre envelope, internal fit out andservices

n On-going installation of the multi-storey car park envelope, internal fitout and services

Some out of hours work is expected inearly May as there are ‘powerfloating’

works to be undertaken. The processmust be continuous which may requireworking late into the night.

In addition, we will need to erect twotower cranes on site which will takeplace over a weekend. We will providethose residents affected with advancenotice of any out of hours working.

GB Building Solutions have nowinstalled their site cabins frontingStretford Road.

Work has started to compact columns of crushed stone into the ground – aprocess known as vibro piling – tostabilise the ground in preparation forthe building of the townhouses. There is some noise and vibration associatedwith these works, which will be on-goingup to the end of May, along with work tolevel land across the site. GB will also be starting the precast concrete piling to Block D.

In addition, GB Building Solutions willbe carrying out the groundworkspackage, which includes installingunderground services, formingfoundations, and forming slabs inpreparation for the timber frame.

They are also working on drainagesolutions to address the problem of roadflooding along the former junction of Old Birley Street and Bonsall Street. The issue of flooding was raised as aroad safety concern at the first meetingof the Birley Fields Community Forum.

Academic Building, Multi-StoreyCar Park and Energy CentreContractor: Sir Robert McAlpine n Start on site: August 2012 n To Complete: Summer 2014

Student accommodation Contractor: GB Building Solutions n Start on site: March 2013 n To Complete: Summer 2014

Block B

Block C

Construction News Works planned for May

If you have any queries, suggestions or complaints regardingthe GB Building Solutions works please contact:

Darren Perkins, Project Manager

n Phone: 07557 254 047

n E-mail: dperkins@gbgroup.co.uk

Sarah Muscas, Community Engagement Manager

n Phone: 07789 507 282

n E-mail: smuscas@gbgroup.co.uk

Or Gareth Walsh, Site Manager on

n Phone: 07500 975 851

n E-mail: gwalsh@gbgroup.co.uk

Normal site hours are:n Mon - Fri: 07.30 - 18.00At this early stage we don’t anticipate work to take place at weekends,however this may change as work progresses.

If you have any queries, suggestions or complaints regardingthe Sir Robert McAlpine works please contact:

Diane Higgins, Community Liaison Officer

n Phone: 0161 871 0200

n E-mail: birley.fields@sir-robert-mcalpine.com

n In person: to the Sir Robert McAlpine Site Office onGeorge Parr Road

Normal site hours are:n Mon - Fri: 07.30 - 18.00

n Sat: 08.30 - 14.00Occasionally work may need to take place outside normal site hours. We will notify you of any additional working hours in advance.

Contact

Sir Robert McAlpine

Site Perimeter

GB Building Solutions

Site Plan

How did I get here?…As I’d recently finished my educationI visited my local Connexions office in Moss Side. I was advised that SirRobert McAlpine were looking for aconstruction apprentice and thoughtit would be a good idea to apply.

I’d previously completed a 6 week coursein bricklaying, carpentry and decoratingat Salford College so I thought thiswould be an ideal opportunity for me. Iwent for an interview and was delightedwhen I was offered the position!

The thing I enjoy most…My work varies on a daily basis.Currently, I’m assisting with keeping the site tidy, but the best part of my job is working closely with seniormembers of the team and learning from their experience.

How did I get here?…“I was appointed by Sir RobertMcAlpine in November 2012 to lead on the company’s communityliaison for Birley Fields.

“I’ve lived in Hulme for twelve years andhave always enjoyed an active role in thecommunity through my voluntary work atthe Aquarius Community Centre. I wasmade aware of the Community LiaisonOfficer position being advertised, at The Works. It seemed like the perfectopportunity to put my local knowledge to good use and be involved insomething that will have a big andlasting impact on the area I live in.

The thing I enjoy most…“What I love most about my job is thatno two days are ever the same. Inprevious jobs I’ve been behind acomputer all day taking phone calls.Coming into the construction industryhas been a new and excitingopportunity. It’s a really hands on rolewhich involves me getting out into thelocal community and meeting newpeople, creating events and taking an active role in them.”

Your Birley Fields

MMU is one of the largest employersin the city. In the last 6 months, wehave employed 82 people from thelocal area to a range of positionsacross our campuses. Nineteen of thenew appointments were identifiedthrough The Works in Moss Side andtheir in-house agency Aspire.

MMU will continue to advertisevacancies through The Works andsupport local people in accessingemployment and training opportunitiesat the new Birley Fields campus when it opens in September 2014.

In the meantime, the Birley Fieldsproject is already creating some local job opportunities and apprenticeshipsduring the construction stage. In thisnewsletter we profile two local residentswho are already employed on site by Sir Robert McAlpine.

Local employment and training

If you are seeking employment onthis construction project, pleasecontact:

Construction GTAconstructionGTA@gmchamber.co.ukor call 0161 237 4170

The Workskhalida.baksh@work-solutions.org.ukor call 0161 359 3388

Job Centre Plus, Hulmecall 0161 252 8800

Diane Higgins, Community Liaison Officer,Sir Robert McAlpine

Darius Barker, Construction Apprentice, SirRobert McAlpine

The Works was established in 2011 as a partnership between, TheUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University,Manchester Solutions and City South Manchester Housing Trust as an employer-led, one-stop-shopsupporting local people seeking work, advice or training. It operatesin close partnership with the largestemployers in the city, including MMU who have led the way byagreeing to advertise some of theirvacancies through The Works.

Full time, part time and term time onlypositions are available in administrativeand secretarial work, retail, catering,cleaning, construction, and other areas.The Works is designed to help you findthe right job based on your skills andexperience, and provides the followingservices to support you through theapplication process:

n A comprehensive careers advice service

n Various training courses for differentlevels and needs. Maths, English andIT courses are available as well asvocational courses providing peoplewith the specific skills required tohelp gain specific jobs. These includeretail, customer services, hospitality,business administration andemployability skills.

n A resource area offering computerworkspace with free internet accessfor job searching, CV writing andcompleting applications. This includesfree printing and photocopying, freecustomer telephone and drop-inassistance and support.

The Works also runs a series ofemployer-led, half-day workshops toexplain and assist with job searching,completing applications and interviewtechniques.

As jobs become available at BirleyFields, MMU and its partners will behosting one of these workshops at The Works. Look out for further details in our next newsletter.

www.theworksmanchester.co.uk

Phone: 0161 359 3388

Email: info@theworksmanchester.co.uk

In Profile: The Works

Your Birley FieldsCommunity News

The Zion Centre supports people toget the most out of their lives, and itwas with this in mind that eight BSc(Hons) Pre Registration students fromthe Department of Nursing took partin an event there in February.

The Department, in collaboration withthe Centre for Public Health, supported thestudents in offering health screening andhealthy lifestyle advice to members of theHulme community. Students advisedmembers of the public on issues such asa healthy diet and safe alcohol limits, andthey also checked manual blood pressures.

The day was enjoyed by all and studentfeedback suggested that it was helpful,as it provided a way to give advice andeducation about developing andmaintaining a healthy lifestyle. It wasalso an opportunity for some people inthe local area to get to know studentsand staff at MMU.

As a result of this very successfulcollaboration, future communityengagement projects are planned toinclude twice yearly health awarenessdays, provided by the pre-registrationnursing team and the Centre for Public

Health. Future activities will focus onsupporting public health issues such asmental health and wellbeing, sexualhealth, long-term health conditions andeducating, informing and involving thecommunity in improving their ownhealth and wellbeing.

The next event will take place on 17 June, 10am – 4pm at The Zion Centre.

Nursing Students deliver health screening at The Zion Centre

Sir Robert McAlpine placed a numberof students in work experience fromManchester Academy and TrinityHigh School during April and hasoffered to place students from TrinityHigh School during July.

In addition, Sir Robert McAlpine held a‘Careers in Construction’ day on 7 Mayfor year 10 and 11 students fromManchester Academy. The two hourquestion and answer event was be held on site, providing another goodopportunity for local school children to find out more about careers in theconstruction industry.

Careers in Construction

On 25 April the Birley FieldsCommunity Forum met at local venueZ-Arts. The Forum heard frommembers of the Birley Fields ProjectTeam about progress on site beforehanding over to Councillor NigelMurphy to introduce the maindiscussion on transport and parking.

Transport for Greater Manchester werethere to answer questions about howBirley Fields fits into the wider transportplan for Greater Manchester.

Simon Cook from Manchester CityCouncil spoke in detail about theResidents Parking Scheme for Hulme,which is currently out to consultation.

For more information and to downloadthe minutes and presentations from theForum please visit the Birley Fieldswebsite www.mmu.ac.uk/birleyfieldsor contact Carla Nuttall by emailc.nuttall@mmu.ac.uk, or by phone on 0161 247 3395.

The Faculty of Education, who will be moving to the Birley Fieldscampus in September 2014, isorganising and funding an educationconference in partnership with theLouise Da-CoCodia Education Trustand the Youth Village with supportfrom MMU Futures.

Diane Abbott MP will open the event,which includes a series of workshopsexploring alternative approaches toeducational provision in the community.There will also be a youth-led sessionexploring their views about education,as well as displays highlighting the workthe Hulme communities and MMU arealready doing.

The conference takes place on Saturday 18May at MMU’s All Saints Campus and isfree to attend but places are limited.

To find out more contact Diane Watt byemail D.Watt@mmu.ac.uk, or by post: MMU, Youth and Community WorkTeam, Wilmslow Road, Didsbury,Manchester M20 2RR.

Community Forum debatestransport and parking

Making Education a Priority

Creating Changes is a project offeringfree community development trainingto a wide range of local support and development organisations sothat they can improve their practicein supporting small communitygroups, voluntary organisations and networks.

In partnership with MMU’s Faculty ofEducation they hosted a Community

Learning workshop on Wednesday 8 May at the MMU Business School, All Saints Campus.

If you are involved in supporting thecollective action or community membersand groups in Hulme, and would like tofind out more about the project pleasecontact the Federation for CommunityDevelopment and Learning on 01142536770 for further information.

Creating Change

Community Forum at Z-Arts

Your Birley Fields

Dates for your Diary

Step up! Confidence buildingand job search skillsworkshops for BME and Refugee Women 17 May – 12 July

Making Education a Priority ConferenceSaturday 18 May 2013

Health Check Day at The Zion CentreMonday 17 June 2013

Brazil comes toSt.George’s HulmeSaturday 22 June 2013

If you would like to find out more aboutany of these events contact:Carla Nuttall, Public EngagementManagerc.nuttall@mmu.ac.uk0161 247 3395.

We would also like to hear from you ifyou are working on a project or eventrelating to Birley Fields, or in the Hulmearea that you would like to shout aboutor request volunteers for. Please get intouch and we’ll do our best to includeyou in our next newsletter.

This publication is available in alternative formats. Please telephone +44 (0)161 247 3395.

Printed on 100% recycled paper.