An Education Trust is to invest £12 million over four years on contracts that could create more than 270 jobs.

The first-of-its-kind initiative has secured over £1.2 million in social value commitment, creating jobs and training programmes

To optimise and streamline the process of procuring minor works contracts, Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, which supports and partners with five secondary schools, one middle school, one first school and forty-one primary schools around Newcastle and Hexham, developed a new approach to appoint general building, roofing, mechanical and electrical contractors as part of the Trust’s estate strategy for the next four years.

Nick Hurn OBE, CEO of BWCET, said: “This innovative and strategic approach not only addresses the operational challenges we have faced, but also significantly enhances the social value we bring to our community.

“We are excited about the positive impact this will have on our schools and the local economy. Our minor works programme and Education Commercial Services is a game changer in this sector enabling Multi-Academy Trusts to be proactive in procurement, creating a forward pipeline, improving supply chain sustainability, cost savings and speed of delivery.”

With a total investment of around £12 million, the aim was to move focus to delivery of projects across the full school year, removing the need to procure at a project level; secondly to ensure best value through a ‘rate-card’ approach to pricing and by appointing contractors to help formulate the most cost and time efficient works programmes and thirdly to secure local support, creating meaningful and lasting social value opportunities, including employment opportunities.

This minor works programme is the first in the UK education sector to be created through a ‘robustly compliant’ process ensuring all statutory obligations are fully met.

COO Louise Levy added: “We have intentionally focused on delivering a robust, compliant approach which ensures we are not only improving our estate management and securing best value but also supporting regional job growth and providing valuable opportunities for apprenticeships and training for our students. We value the engagement from the regional business community in making this process a success.”

Securing over £1.2 million in social value commitment, the initiative will enhance the regional economy by working with local providers including SMEs and creating 271 employment and training opportunities. This breaks down to approaching 20 new FTE jobs, almost 30 apprenticeships and over 220 flexible employment opportunities and work experience placements.

The appointed providers will also deliver almost 150 days of training opportunities to benefit students at the Trust’s schools, with more than 230 hours of learning interventions, working with subject departments to support the curriculum; nearly 50 days of construction sector awareness training and 64 days of career guidance and mentorship programmes.

The services of six providers have been secured to deliver the scheme - MJ Quinn, Odin Services, Able Construction, T Manners & Sons, Hodgson Sayers and John Flowers.