Client Barratt West Midlands had some extraordinary visitors at its Monarch Fields development in Telford during a Part Exchange event weekend this month.
A selection of animals from Hoo Farm Animal Kingdom located a few minutes drive from the development on Humber Lane were out to meet and greet visiting families, and included a meerkat, a Burmese python, a racoon and a barn owl.
Don’t forget, The Lyng - a major regeneration project by client Barratt West Midlands - will officially kick off this weekend (Saturday 16th April), with the help of West Bromwich Albion legends Tony Bomber Brown and Brendon Batson. For details contact 0121 585 5605 or visit www.thelyngalive.co.uk.
Tony in 1978, picture thanks to West Bromwhich archivist Laurie Rampling
The legend that is Tony ‘Bomber’ Brown will be opening a development of brand new homes for client Barratt West Midlands on Saturday 16th April. At 10.30am the former West Bromwich Albion player will be attending The Lyng, a new regeneration project from Barratt which is set to change the face of West Bromwich. Tony, who will be joined by another Baggies legend, Brendon Batson MBE will be cutting a navy and white ribbon into the new show homes and be available for autograph signings and photographs. Anyone interested in going to the event should call 0121 585 5606 for details or go to The Lyng marketing suite on Lyttleton Street on the day.
50 people from Birmingham people have found new jobs at a Shard End development.
Client Barratt West Midlands has announced that 50 local people have found jobs in the last five months at its new development in Shard End.
The Crescent, a £27m project to build nearly 200 homes, is now the place of work for 50 labourers, tradesmen and sub-contractors – as well as two apprentices. Many of the people employed live within five miles of the site.
Since the scheme began last November more than £2.2 million worth of contracts have been given to local suppliers, operating within five miles of the site, including electrical contractors, ground workers, bricklayers and security companies.
As well as new homes the development will provide a new vicarage for All Saints Church, a new library and 14,000 sq ft of retail units including a Co-op, bookmakers, post office, chip shop and a bakery. A number of the retailers operate from the area already and are being relocated in brand new premises as a result of the development.
In total 124 one-, two- and three-bedroom houses will be available for private sale along with 67 affordable homes.
Adrian Farr, Managing Director for Halesowen-based Barratt said that the development is a classic example of how new construction projects can quickly employ significant numbers of people and benefit the local economy.
“From the start the Shard End scheme has been about more than just fulfilling housing needs and is one of a number of projects we are working on in the region that have local people at its heart.
“We have worked for a number of years with our partners here in Shard End to devise a scheme that would benefit the whole community and it is pleasing to see that in developing this site we are also able to aid both physical and social regeneration.”
Details of one of the apprentices and the local labourer are:
Alex Lennon
Carpentry apprentice
Age 16
Lives in Kings Heath
Studying NVQ in carpentry at South Birmingham College
Alex said, “Being an apprentice is fantastic; I like being outdoors and am learning a trade which I enjoy. I had to take test to get this position so I feel really lucky to be working here.
“I knew I wanted a real job and to study at the same time and being able to do this with Barratt is ideal. In the future I’d like to get into construction management and hopefully this apprenticeship will put me in good stead to achieving that one day.”
Chris Adams
Site labourer
Age 33
Lives in Shard End
Found position through Job Centre, was previously unemployed for six months
Chris Adams (L) and Alex Lennon (R)
James Morris, MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, visited Barratt West Midlands in Halesowen on Friday to meet with its apprentices.
The visit, part of National Apprenticeships Week, was to create awareness of the Government’s plan to deliver 100,000 extra apprenticeships by 2014. These ambitious plans are being funded by an increased budget of £1.4 billion in 2011/12. In addition to Barratt, other firms across the UK creating thousands of new apprenticeships include British Gas and Jaguar Land Rover.
During the visit, James spoke with the apprentices about the work which they have been doing and their future ambitions. He was then given a tour of the facilities to find out more about the roles of each apprentice within the organisation. These types of apprenticeships are vital for young people to aid their career progression. In fact, research shows that those with an advanced apprenticeship are likely to earn an extra £105,000 over their working life.
Adrian Farr, Managing Director of Barratt West Midlands said: “We were delighted to welcome James to our head office to meet some of our present apprentices. As a company we have always been committed to developing raw talent, in fact many of our senior personnel started out as trade apprentices and combined with the Barratt Academy offer some of the best training in the industry.
James Morris with the Barratt apprentices
It was an important day for client Barratt West Midlands yesterday, as it marked the official start of construction work at the Shard End Urban Village regeneration project in Birmingham. Called ‘The Crescent’ the project is a partnership between Birmingham City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). A host of local VIPs braved the bitter weather to make the first cut in the groud.
The £27m project will see a new shopping centre, a new library, 191 new homes and community facilities built over the next three to four years. A new vicarage will also form part of the development around a centra square at the existing All Saints Church.
Barratt MD, Adrian Farr (centre) joined by David Rhead of the HCA (left) and Elaine Elkington of BCC (right) to cut the sod at Shard End
Barratt West Midlands held a SPOOK-TACULAR weekend event at its Monarch Fields development in Telford. Halloween treats were given to little terrors dressed in their scariest costume as the grown up ghosts and ghouls visited the new showhome.
Here are two of the sales advisers getting into the bewitching spirit!
No tricks, just treats!
Britain’s shrinking bee population is being given a much-needed boost from our client Barratt West Midlands, who have planted a selection of bee friendly plants at its Hodkins Place development on Leabrook Road in Wednesbury.
Keeping buzzy - A sales advisor at Hodkins Place
Green fingered youngsters living at Barratt West Midlands’ Monarch Fields development entered into a competition this month to grow the tallest sunflower. A prize will be awarded to the winner in September.
Some of the children with their seedlings ready to plant.
Client Barratt West Midlands was featured on Beacon Radio this week as it annouced it has been shortlisted to provide hundreds of affordable new homes across the Black Country for the Governmnet’s Kickstart program. Take a listen to find out more…Beacon Radio 04.08.09
