VINCI Construction, the company awarded the main contract to build the Eden Project in Morecambe, has pledged to ensure opportunities for smaller firms and young people during the build. The announcement came at a community event held at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool to mark the start of the construction phase.
Local Supply Chain Commitment
Speaking at the event, VINCI's Nick Hamer highlighted the company's track record of engaging local suppliers. He said: "With the Blackpool King Street office, 52 per cent of supplier contracts, worth £38m, was spent within 30 miles. And a higher ratio went within 50 miles." He added: "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."
The Eden Project Morecambe, which will feature two shell-shaped domes on the seafront, is expected to kickstart the town's regeneration and boost the wider regional economy. A ground-breaking ceremony was held last week, marking the first phase of garden work starting this summer.
Workforce and Apprenticeships
VINCI said they have 200 staff, many of whom have been with the company for years after completing apprenticeships, HNC courses, and day-release university courses. Richard Slater, contracts manager, said: "We hope to employ people from Morecambe on this project." He cited previous VINCI projects such as the Royal Preston Hospital extension, the Radcliffe Civic Hub in Greater Manchester, and the One Central Park offices in east Manchester. "Radcliffe Civic Hub has really transformed the area and got young people into construction, who will hopefully stay with us for a few years," Slater added.
Economic Impact Projections
Eden Morecambe boss John Pye drew comparisons with the original Eden Project in Cornwall, which over 25 years has attracted 25 million visitors, generated £630 million in local supplier spending, and delivered an economic impact of £6.8 billion across the region. "Can you imagine what Morecambe will get over 25 years?" Pye asked. He stressed the importance of building strong local connections: "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."
College Collaboration and Skills Development
Lancaster & Morecambe College is among the organisations involved with the Eden Project. Students from the college crafted a giant seven-foot spade used at the ground-breaking ceremony, demonstrating skills including wood splaying from a single piece of timber taken from a felled tree at the college. Ryan Williams and Phil Allott, who head the college's construction engineering and engineering courses, 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, developed in partnership, provides a clear route for youngsters through school and college, with a focus on sustainability including building materials, recycling, and waste minimisation. "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," Williams added. "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."
