Member Article

Hull feels the benefit of two new Keepmoat developments

A study of the workforce and supply chain used on two major housing schemes in Hull has shown the city’s economy has been significantly boosted by the developments.

Housing and regeneration specialist, Keepmoat, is building 498 homes in West Hull at the Hawthornes @ Amy Johnson and Scholars Gate.

Analysis shows that a vast majority of workers the Yorkshire-based company has employed for the projects come from the Humberside area. Keepmoat has calculated 80 per cent of sub-contractors live in or around Hull.

Keepmoat’s commitment to local recruitment has meant that for the 167 workers currently employed across the two sites, 85 per cent live within 20 miles of Hull’s city centre.

An initiative to provide local suppliers of all types to work on the projects has also proved successful, as Lindsey Parker, Senior Quantity Surveyor at Keepmoat, explained: “We held a ‘meet the developer’ event in partnership with Cityworks and Hull City Council to encourage businesses to tender for the millions of pounds worth of work on offer.

“We had a fantastic response and met with dozens of potential suppliers over the day-long event. So far we’ve appointed several suppliers from the Hull area to work on the two projects, directly benefitting Hull’s local economy.”

Across the road from Keepmoat’s Scholars Gate on Spring Bank West, S&P Timber was awarded a contract to supply 69 sheds to the development, equating to £20,000 worth of business for the timber merchants.

Scott Kitching, who founded S&P Timber with his father Phil 10 years ago, said: “It’s business wins like these that help us to expand and grow. We are looking to take extra people on this year thanks to Keepmoat’s order.

“Usually when we tender for contracts like these we just don’t hear back. Keepmoat was completely different; they approached us and asked us if we’d like to put in a quote. We heard back really quickly and they seemed over the moon that they could find a supplier so close to their development.”

The company currently employs nine people at its two yards in the city and has just gained planning permission to open a third yard on Salt House Road.

Across both sites, Keepmoat has also employed a total of 12 apprentices since July, including Joinery apprentice Reece Cassells who gained a distinction in his recent NVQ exams. Now working on the 148-home Hawthornes @ Amy Johnson development, Reece, 18, joined Keepmoat straight from school.

“I love the job, I get to work with some great people and I’m learning a lot about woodwork and how construction sites work,” said Reece, who is studying for his NVQ level 3 at Hull College.

David Carmichael, Partnerships and Land Director from Keepmoat, said: “The houses we are building in the city are not only helping to revive derelict land, but the work and opportunities we provide will stand companies like S & P in good stead for many years to come.

“The developments in Hull will provide millions of pounds worth of work and we want to make sure that as much of that work as possible is kept within the local area.

“It is important to us that as well as creating high-quality homes for local people we offer high-quality apprenticeships and jobs to boost the local economy.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Craig Downs .