As reported on Train4TradeSkills blog this week, Premier Inn, the England’s biggest budget hotel chain, has announced further investments for the building industry as it paves the way for more hotels to be built across the UK.

In addition to the £5.9 million investment in Camborne announced yesterday, Premier Inn brings £4.1 million investment to Coventry, as it opens a new hotel later this month.

With low availability of affordable hotel places in some parts of the UK and pressure to reduce costs, more smaller hotels are being built – especially such offering affordable prices to customers. Premier Inn has invested millions of pounds across the country in building and renovating new hotels across the UK. Recent developments include hotels in Worcestershire, Barry, Dartford and Camborne.

Although UK unemployment rose by 118,000, in the past three months since November, the building sector doesn’t seem to be affected due to the governments’ extensive investment to create thousands of jobs in the building construction sector.

The Prime Minister announced in the Commons today that whilst unemployment is rising, there is an increase in the number of people working; another 18, 000 people are in work.

“We need more private sector employment and we need to move further and faster on that agenda.” – Mr Cameron said.

Chris Grayling, the Work and Pensions Minister said in a BBC interview this morning that the recent figures on unemployment are more complex than they first appear.

Mr Grayling said that the government has lots of work to do in regards to improving employment opportunities and getting more people back to work. He said: “The private sector is creating jobs faster than the changes in the public sector.”

Mr Grayling said that there were more to the statistics than what first met the eye, but he admitted unemployment level was much too high.

 

If you are in the building sector, do you feel safer with your job than people in other industries? Tell us why? Do you think that enough is being done to tackle the unemployment? 

 

Planning permission has been granted to the biggest North East housing redevelopment on the banks of the Tyne which will create hundreds of jobs in the building construction industry.

The project is part of the government’s scheme to build 16, 000 new homes across England to deal with the current shortage of affordable houses as well as to help first time buyers with lower interest rates.

The government has recently argued that making homes more affordable for first time buyers will increase demand in the housing market and will help the building industry to generate more revenue.

The North East housing redevelopment will bring more jobs to the region as more than 1,800 homes will be built over the next 15 years in the Scotswood area of Newcastle.

Key developers and house builders involved in the project include Barratt, Keepmoat and Yuill; they expect to start building work on the first 400 homes this summer.   The housing development will comply with Level 4 of the government’s Code for Sustainable Homes, which is higher than the currently required standard.

The government has said it will support first time buyers in their efforts to get on the housing ladder easier which will increase housing demand and generate more money in the building construction sector.

First time buyers will get support and funding from the Homes and Communities Agency’s FirstBuy scheme, which is part of the Government’s wider proposals to boost growth by simultaneously stimulating demand, tackling supply-side barriers and supporting local building priorities.

The New Tyne West Development Company, the private-public partnership formed by the builders and the city council, will be running workshops in coming months to help local firms and builders to bid for work on the development.

Businesses and building companies interested in the bidding process can contact Amanda Senior on 0191 226 7943 or email Amanda.senior@ntwdc.co.uk for further information.

The government has backed up £32 billion plan today for high-speed railway which will create hundreds of thousands long term jobs in the building engineering sector, help the economy and cut the journey time from London to Birmingham to 49 minutes.

As reported this week, top business leaders and economists pushed the government to give green light to the high-speed rail (HS2) between London and Birmingham.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening backed up the first phase of HS2 in the Commons today, a 100-mile link, which will be built for 10 years and high-speed trains will start running by 2026.

“High Speed 2 is a scheme to deliver hugely enhanced rail capacity and connectivity between Britain’s major conurbations,” the Transport Secretary said.

“It is the largest transport infrastructure investment in the UK for a generation, and, with the exception of High Speed 1, is the first major new railway line since the Victorian era.”-Mrs Greening added.

The government has also argued that the project will generate £44bn of benefits to the economy over 60 years. The line is considered to be extended further north to Scotland in future decades.

Cities in the north of England such as Manchester and Leeds would also see reduced journey times and will be equally accessible when the whole project is finalised in 2032.

In a statement today, The Department for Transport said: “HS2 is not just about getting between London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester more quickly, but bringing faster services and many more seats to towns and cities well beyond the HS2 network.

“It would work just like a motorway. No one uses a motorway to get all the way from their front door to their final destination, but they use it because it offers high capacity and faster services – precisely what HS2 will offer rail passengers.”

Are you for or against the new high-speed rail line and what difference do you think it would make to you and your business? Share your thoughts by commenting here:  

 

 

 

New development worth £400 million will be build close to Vauxhall Square, South West London. The scheme will include two 50-storey residential towers with 513 flats, shopping center, cinema and cafes.

The huge Vauxhall Square redevelopment on the 3-acre site in the Nine Elms area of London will also include 416 student rooms and a large hotel. The new development will create hundreds of jobs in the building industry and benefit the construction sector.

Key developer in the project, CLS, has already submitted plans for the scheme which aim is to start building work in 2014, with phases being completed from 2017 onwards.

Richard Tice, chief executive Officer of CLS Holdings plc, said: “This substantial mixed-use scheme is a key element to the Vauxhall Nine Elms regeneration plans.

“It will create a new vibrant heart for Vauxhall and over 1,000 additional full-time jobs across a broad range of skills, both during and after construction.

“The investment of over £400m will bring substantial benefits to a wide range of stakeholders and is not dependent on the Northern Line extension.”

A survey revealed today by the CBI showed that the outlook for the building, engendering and the construction sector is more positive following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement which gave priority to economic recovery and financial boost for building sector.

What is your reaction on the new development in South West London? Will the fresh investment provide you with better employment opportunities? Share your thoughts with us by commenting below: