Wiltshire businesses urged to get involved in A303 Stonehenge scheme
The controversial project was given the green light by the Transport Secretary last month
Highways England are encouraging smaller businesses in Wiltshire to get involved with the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel scheme.
An economic assessment, which has been validated by the Department for Transport, indicates that the work will help create around 21,000 jobs and deliver a £39 billion boost in the long term.
The roads organisation say that this project could be just the job in terms of providing opportunities for small or medium sized companies in the area.
David Bullock, Highways England Project Manager for the A303 Stonehenge scheme, said:
"The scheme has numerous benefits, not only in improving journey reliability and enhancing the World Heritage Site landscape, but also in unlocking economic growth in the South West.
The scheme is not just limited to larger, national and international companies, and we’re keen for local and regional businesses to get the chance to work with the project.
With our archaeology specialists and preliminary works contractors expected to start on site in late spring next year, there’s going to be some opportunities with those companies within the next six months or so. But there will be greater potential when our main contractor is appointed later in 2021 , and we’d urge businesses to get in touch now, so we can start to help them prepare."
FREE TRAINING
Highways England have also teamed up with the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Business West and the Federation of Small Businesses to provide training.
The free online sessions are there to help smaller organisations grow and be in a better position to take on projects like the A303 upgrade.
Recently, contracts have been awarded to Osborne Ltd for the preliminary works, and to Wessex Archaeology for the excavation work.
Highways England will also be hosting a Meet The Buyer event early in the new year, and this will help to outline the training available via the Supply Chain Sustainability School, including topics such as Business Ethics, Waste Resource, Sustainable Procurement and Equality Diversion Inclusion.
Paddy Bradley, Swindon and Wiltshire LEP Chief Executive, said:
"These businesses are at the core of our economy and their engagement with the supply chain activity associated with this major infrastructure project is exactly what they need.
We want small businesses in our area to gain these contracts as strong and resilient enterprises create employment and security for families in our area."
Meanwhile, Ruth Lambert, Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Wiltshire, added:
"This initiative to raise awareness of opportunities from the A303 scheme is a great idea and we will certainly be doing our bit to spread the word.
We’d encourage small business owners across the county to think about how they might be able to get involved and benefit from the economic opportunities the project offers for our area."
Any companies interested in signing up to the project can register their details by going to the Highways England website.