First of more than 300 apprenctices now on new Co-operative Head Office site

The first of more than 300 apprentices who will work on the building of The Co-operative Group’s head office in Manchester city centre are now on site.

12 apprentices are currently working on the Group’s £100m new home on Miller Street, which is being built by BAM Construction.

The Co-operative and BAM Construction are working with Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Greater Manchester Employers Coalition and Jobcentre Plus with the aim of ensuring that 8 per cent of the total workforce will be apprentices. That will equate to 1 in 12 jobs on the building site at any one time.

More than 4,000 workers from 90 companies will be involved in the construction of the 16 storey head office, which is scheduled to be completed by August 2012. 

The apprentices are working as bricklayers, joiners, engineers and trainee site managers on the building which will comprise of 325,000 sq ft of open plan office and support space.

Martyn Hulme, Managing Director Co-operative Estates, said: “To have as many as 1 in 12 of the workforce as apprentices is a higher than average ratio for a construction site of this nature but we were determined that our new head office should help create job opportunities for local people.”

Tony Grindrod, Construction Manager at BAM Construction, added: “We're working really hard on this outstanding building and it's exciting because Manchester is also home for many of us. Giving something back through the apprentice scheme means that the way we build the Co-operative Group's new headquarters has added a feel-good factor for everybody.”

For more information contact:

Dave Smith
The Co-operative Group Press Office
Tel: 0161 827 5614
Mob: 07702 152771
Email: dave.smith@co-operative.coop