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Edward Street Quarter delivers more than £15m of local benefits
Edward Street Quarter has delivered £15.2m worth of social and economic benefits to Brighton & Hove since construction began in 2019.
Developers Socius and builders McLaren have worked closely to deliver an ongoing social value action plan, which focuses on delivering local employment and training opportunities and community support.
This has included spending nearly £12m with local companies, as well as support for neighbouring schools and community projects.
Brighton’s newest neighbourhood Edward Street Quarter employs the full time equivalent of 87 local people on annual contracts at the £140m redevelopment of the site.
In total 125 young people have been provided with mentoring and careers advice and 100 local people have had the chance to attend industry accredited training courses.
And ten apprenticeships have been delivered in drylining, bricklaying, site management, plumbing, carpentry, civil engineering and training to be an electrician.
Training has also been provided in areas including plant and logistics, for example leading to five local people receiving harness and working at height accreditation, while a further four local people have qualified as hoist passenger and goods operators.
Site supervision was another area where local people received training, with three local people working towards NVQ Level 4 in Construction Site Supervision, while five local people are working towards NVQ Level 6 in Construction Site Management.
Upskilling has also been a focus with eight people currently being upskilled in bricklaying to NVQ Level 2 and 12 people receiving training in bricklaying to NVQ Level 3.
Steve Eccles, Director at Socius, said:
Developers Socius and builders McLaren have worked closely to deliver an ongoing social value action plan, which focuses on delivering local employment and training opportunities and community support.
This has included spending nearly £12m with local companies, as well as support for neighbouring schools and community projects.
Brighton’s newest neighbourhood Edward Street Quarter employs the full time equivalent of 87 local people on annual contracts at the £140m redevelopment of the site.
In total 125 young people have been provided with mentoring and careers advice and 100 local people have had the chance to attend industry accredited training courses.
And ten apprenticeships have been delivered in drylining, bricklaying, site management, plumbing, carpentry, civil engineering and training to be an electrician.
Training has also been provided in areas including plant and logistics, for example leading to five local people receiving harness and working at height accreditation, while a further four local people have qualified as hoist passenger and goods operators.
Site supervision was another area where local people received training, with three local people working towards NVQ Level 4 in Construction Site Supervision, while five local people are working towards NVQ Level 6 in Construction Site Management.
Upskilling has also been a focus with eight people currently being upskilled in bricklaying to NVQ Level 2 and 12 people receiving training in bricklaying to NVQ Level 3.
Steve Eccles, Director at Socius, said:
“A central element to Edward Street Quarter has always been to bring tangible benefits to the community. Property developments are so much more than bricks and mortar, they are an opportunity to make a positive impact during construction and once the development is complete, by building a better place to live, work and socialise.
“We have focused on employing local residents and using local businesses as part of our supply chain. We continue to support unemployed people of all ages with mentoring programmes and career advice. We also remain committed to making a positive impact in our local community for all residents.
“For example, we’ve contributed time and expertise to a community garden on Edward Street, as well as supporting local befriending schemes to help those who feel marginalised or who are on the periphery of society. And we have assisted local homeless charities and temporary housing schemes.”
“We have focused on employing local residents and using local businesses as part of our supply chain. We continue to support unemployed people of all ages with mentoring programmes and career advice. We also remain committed to making a positive impact in our local community for all residents.
“For example, we’ve contributed time and expertise to a community garden on Edward Street, as well as supporting local befriending schemes to help those who feel marginalised or who are on the periphery of society. And we have assisted local homeless charities and temporary housing schemes.”
Brighton & Hove City Council leader Phélim Mac Cafferty said:
“Although historically the city has struggled to provide modern office space to allow companies to grow, the new top spec office space at Edward St will help Creative-Digital-IT (CDIT) companies in the city to grow. It will draw new employers to our shores, which are central to our local recovery.
“Working with the city council, the training programme Socius and McLaren Construction have put in place is supporting skills development, work-experience and providing employment. There has been a concerted effort to create new jobs and training opportunities in the city – particularly around apprenticeships and support for those previously unemployed.
“Even when the redevelopment of the Edward St Qtr is complete, the skills and work-experience these programmes have delivered will be retained in the city. There will be a lasting benefit for the those who have been trained and worked on-site, and for future development projects.”
“Working with the city council, the training programme Socius and McLaren Construction have put in place is supporting skills development, work-experience and providing employment. There has been a concerted effort to create new jobs and training opportunities in the city – particularly around apprenticeships and support for those previously unemployed.
“Even when the redevelopment of the Edward St Qtr is complete, the skills and work-experience these programmes have delivered will be retained in the city. There will be a lasting benefit for the those who have been trained and worked on-site, and for future development projects.”
Edward Street Quarter comprises 125,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, as well as 20,000 sq ft of leisure, retail and hospitality facilities. The site is being jointly developed by Socius, First Base and Patron Capital Partners.
Homes at the £140 million development are open for viewings, with a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments - many with outside space and all with access to an impressive panoramic roof terrace.
Homes at the £140 million development are open for viewings, with a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments - many with outside space and all with access to an impressive panoramic roof terrace.
Further community benefits:
- More than £11.97 million in contract value committed to local companies for the delivery of goods and services including procuring the services of a security company and local cleaning company on site.
- As part of the schools Gateway programme, 11 students from the local academy were registered for a Construction Skills Certification Scheme training course and offered work experience at Edward Street Quarter.
- One student went on from work experience to a plumbing apprenticeship at Edward Street Quarter.
- £2,000 was donated to the Young City Reads campaign for the provision of books for local Carlton Hill Primary School.
- The Tarner Community Project received funding for its annual ‘Winter Warmer’ event which caters for hundreds of neighbourhood residents and donations of food for vulnerable local people.
- The Community Garden on Edward Street received a water butt, a new patio area and pathway and a bench.
- Donations of £150 from the team to buy food collections for homeless people staying in a Brighton shelter.
- Raffle donation of £140 to Carlton Hill Primary School of a ticket to be a zookeeper for a day at Knockhatch Adventure Park.
- Daily litter pick at local square.
- Partnership with a local homeless charity has resulted in one of their residents gaining employment onsite.
- More than £11.97 million in contract value committed to local companies for the delivery of goods and services including procuring the services of a security company and local cleaning company on site.
- As part of the schools Gateway programme, 11 students from the local academy were registered for a Construction Skills Certification Scheme training course and offered work experience at Edward Street Quarter.
- One student went on from work experience to a plumbing apprenticeship at Edward Street Quarter.
- £2,000 was donated to the Young City Reads campaign for the provision of books for local Carlton Hill Primary School.
- The Tarner Community Project received funding for its annual ‘Winter Warmer’ event which caters for hundreds of neighbourhood residents and donations of food for vulnerable local people.
- The Community Garden on Edward Street received a water butt, a new patio area and pathway and a bench.
- Donations of £150 from the team to buy food collections for homeless people staying in a Brighton shelter.
- Raffle donation of £140 to Carlton Hill Primary School of a ticket to be a zookeeper for a day at Knockhatch Adventure Park.
- Daily litter pick at local square.
- Partnership with a local homeless charity has resulted in one of their residents gaining employment onsite.
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