At the centre of adult learning

Jan 15 2008 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

INTERNATIONAL project management and cost consultancy Faithful and Gould, which has a base in Stockton, has completed a major project in the region.

As part of its growing range of work in the education sector, the team has been working on an Adult Learning Centre in Skelton.

Faithful and Gould was appointed by Redcar and Cleveland Council, on behalf of its Adult Learning Service, to undertake pre and post contractual quantity surveying services for the centre in February last year.

The Adult Learning Service had successfully bid to the Learning and Skills Council Capital Challenge Fund to finance this project.

The service offers a wide range of life-long learning opportunities for people of all abilities and levels of achievement.

The project comprised the alteration of existing classrooms and the garage adjacent to Skelton Youth and Community Centre.

The building includes a new reception area, disabled access, re-alignment of changing facilities, new utility services and work to the existing heating system.

Faithful and Gould’s remit also included advising on procurement and producing an activity schedule.

Gary Marshall, regional director, said: “We have a great deal of capability of providing quantity surveying services on a diversity of projects and having recently worked on a number of very large schemes I have welcomed the opportunity to be part of a scheme which will have such a positive impact on its local community.

“As is the case for many smaller scale projects, the budget was particularly tight, therefore our team was keen to manage it very carefully as well as sourcing best value solutions.

“Over the past 10 years, our team has gained significant experience on an unusually wide range of education projects from multi-million pound academies to much smaller schemes that have a tangible effect on the communities.”

The centre is expected to be used by about 400 people a week and has a regular team of 12 visiting tutors.

John Harris, from the Redcar and Cleveland Adult Learning Services, said: “We are delighted with our new facility.”

Faithful and Gould’s other education projects include the multi-million pound Excelsior Academy scheme in Newcastle, a £160m Private Finance Initiative project to build and manage a student village for the University of Sheffield and a project to improve sporting facilities at Thornhill School Business and Enterprise College in Sunderland.