100 new jobs created at £162m Thorpe Park Leeds development

The £162m phase two development at Thorpe Park Leeds has marked the creation of 100 new jobs in the construction industry.

The new positions have been created so far through the main contractor GMI Construction and its supply chain as it progresses on site.

30% of the jobs have been taken up by Leeds residents. In addition to the new jobs, 10 new apprenticeships have also been created.

This milestone reflects a commitment made by development partners Scarborough International Properties and Legal & General Capital to support and promote local employment and skill opportunities wherever possible.

This is part of a partnership with Leeds City Council and its Employment & Skills Service.

Thorpe Park Leeds is already a 800,000 sq ft business park with over 60 occupiers including IBM, National Grid, Atkins and United Utilities.

Delivery of phase two is now underway to provide 1.35 million sq ft of mixed accommodation which includes a new 300,000 sq ft shopping and leisure park and the first phase of 940,000 sq ft of offices.

The development also includes 300 new homes by Redrow and a 113-acre public park with sports facilities.

Simon Marshall, joint chief executive at Scarborough International Properties, commented: “We are delighted to have created 100 local jobs through the development of phase two at Thorpe Park Leeds.

“This is the tremendous result of our collaboration with Leeds City Council, with which we have a dedicated delivery team working to maximise local employment and education at every opportunity.

“This extends to a local schools’ engagement programme and initiatives working with partners such as Ahead Partnership to broaden student perceptions of the construction industry. To date 1,335 pupils have been involved in a range of careers events, workshops and curriculum challenges that we have hosted.

“Local engagement will remain extremely important to the partnership as we work over the next six years to deliver phase two at Thorpe Park Leeds. We are confident that when the project is complete and operational over 13,000 new jobs will have been created.”

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, executive member for employment, enterprise and opportunity at Leeds City Council, said: “Leeds City Council is working in close partnership with Scarborough Group International, GMI Construction and its sub-contractors to maximise employment and skills opportunities for local people.

“I am delighted to see that there are already ten apprentices working on the site and we hope this number increases throughout the lifetime of the construction period. We also look forward to many more job opportunities becoming available to the tenants of Thorpe Park once the development is completed.”