Recently Chris Blackburn, our Lancashire-based Senior Bid Manager attended the Wigan, Bolton and Bury Construction Club, organised by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Chris reports back on the range of developments underway in this part of the region….
For those not familiar with the region, Bolton, Bury and Wigan are three major towns which form a ring to the west and north of Manchester. The Construction Clubs are always a fantastic way to learn more about the developments across the region. As well as this event which is held quarterly, there are similar events held in Salford, Manchester and Stockport to highlight the range of projects underway. These are a great way for the local councils and their appointed contractors to engage with local SMEs and explain the range of contract opportunities which are available. Details of the upcoming projects outlined include:
• Bolton – the town is embarking on a major strategy to drive forward an inclusive economy, based on its £1bn town centre masterplan. The focus here is that town centres remain key to the UK economy but must diversify with increased housing, food and leisure opportunities. The scale of this investment is exciting with £100m invested to leverage £1bn of value. The plan is focused around five key intervention zones of Coral Valley, Church Wharf, Cheadle Street, Crompton Place and Trinity Quarter. The overall benefits are significant with the £100m council investment bringing overall economic developments of floorspace of 1.5m sq. ft., 2,000 new homes, 7,400 new jobs and £412m GVA (Gross Value Added).
• Bury – the council’s procurement team are driving forward with many opportunities for local businesses. This includes boiler replacements, classroom extensions and play area refurbishments. The council has several opportunities through its Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO), Six Town Housing, who are operating a staged procurement approach for works including Waste Collection, Roofing, Glazing, Drainage and Fencing. These contracts are seeking experienced local SME contractors to complement the Repairs Direct workforce.
• Wigan – the borough is undertaking a large number of redevelopment projects which will set the borough up for years to come. This includes the refresh of the central Market Place area and a Housing New Build Framework which has been divided into 6 lots split by construction type and value band. This will run for four years and the deadline for submission is the 5th November. Larger projects include the M58 Link Road which will link the M6 at Junction 26 to the south side of the town centre. The council has also previously procured the A49 Link Road which will provide improvements for commuters. The main contractor Jones Brothers again has a range of subcontractor opportunities available with work starting this month. Finally, many people will know Wigan Pier due to George Formby and George Orwell, even if they have never visited the town. This is being redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme which will transform the site into a multi-leisure destination. The companies tendering for the range of opportunities there include Artez Construction Ltd; Eric Wright (Special Projects); H. H. Smith’s Ltd; Excell Construction Ltd; Justin Hurst Contractors; Parkinsons Ltd; Seddon Construction Ltd; and Speakmans Contractors, who all have subcontract opportunities available.
With all of these exciting projects ahead, there has never been a better time for contractors to deliver the best tenders possible to secure business. This is where an external bid specialist can help by getting you bid ready, ensuring lessons are learned from your previous tendering experiences, and providing a tailored and bespoke bid writing and management service. AM Bid are ideally placed to help with any of these upcoming opportunities and with local staff and associates, we can deliver a service which can set you up to win.