VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS. A social and economic report

VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report CLIENT LOCAL AUTHORITY EMPLOYABILITY PARTNER

VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report

VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report Contents Executive Summary Introduction Local Employment New Entrants Local Procurement / Spend Work Experience Apprenticeships School / Educational Visits Local Charities Considerate Constructors Scheme

VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report Executive Summary This report has been produced by Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), to evaluate the social and economic impact of it s Victoria Gate construction project, on the City of Leeds and the wider area. Key objectives outlined by Leeds City Council and the Hammerson at project commencement, related to maximizing local employment and apprenticeships, and engaging with local schools, colleges and the wider community. The overarching result of this evaluation, is that this project has had the following significant social and economic impacts: 18% of the project value was spent locally 122+ person weeks of work experience were provided 534 new entrants were employed on the project 16.4% of the project workforce were locally employed from Leeds 500+ local students engaged through presentations & site tours 44 out of 50 achieved by the project as part of the Considerate Constructors Scheme Note: Statistics correct as of end of October 17apprentices were employed, of which 11 attended Leeds College of Building

VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report Introduction Situated adjacent to Eastgate in the centre of Leeds, the Victoria Gate development will house a flagship 21,000m2 John Lewis store, along with elegantly designed two-street arcade with 30 stores, restaurants, cafés, a casino and a multistorey car park. Where this evaluation has considered the local impact, this has been defined in two ways: 1. From one of the following wards identified by Leeds City Council as targeted wards local to the project: Armley Beeston and Holbeck Burmantofts and Richmond Hill Chapel Allerton City and Hunslet Gipton and Harehills Hyde Park and Woodhouse Middleton Park 2. From Leeds district (not including the wards listed above)

VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report Local Employment Through the use of a site access control / time and attendance system installed on the site, SRM has been able to monitor and record to what extent the project supported the objective of employing individuals from the local community. In total, 4637 personnel were employed on the project, of which: 8.1% were from local wards 8.3% were from Leeds district (not including the local wards) New Entrants This includes individuals who have been employed by the main contractor and those businesses within the supply chain as a direct result of the construction project. This includes individuals who have started work after a period of unemployment or study, have moved to a new employer for this job or have been promoted. They will also have been employed by the company for at least 13 weeks. Through partnering with Construction and Housing Yorkshire to recruit New Entrants, and encouraging our subcontractors to utilize Construction and Housing Yorkshire also, a significant number of local people were provided with employment on this project: Total no. of new entrants = 534 No. of new entrants from local = 151 No. of new entrants from Leeds district = 243

Local Procurement / Spend VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report During the course of the project, SRM identified Leeds based subcontractors, suppliers and consultants who had the capacity to tender for work on the project. Through this targeted procurement: 14% of the total supply chain value was placed with businesses from Leeds district 39% of the total supply chain value was placed with businesses from Yorkshire With regard to total spend (SRM and subcontractors): Over 18% of the project value was spent in Leeds district Work Experience The provision of work placements helps to give people the valuable experience needed to progress their development and employability. On the Victoria Gate project, over 122 person weeks of work experience placements (82 weeks paid and 40 weeks unpaid) were provided on this project including: University students undertaking vacational placements, including a student from Leeds University studying architectural engineering, and a student from Leeds Beckett University studying civil engineering 6 no. individuals gaining work experience during a 6 week Head Start programme A number of students from local secondary schools

VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report Apprenticeships There was a commitment on the Victoria Gate project, to employ both existing and project initiated apprentices, where: An Apprenticeship is a job with an accompanying skills development programme. It allows the apprentice to gain technical knowledge and real practical experience, along with functional and personal skills, required for their immediate job and future career. Apprentices must have an Apprenticeship Agreement, be paid at least the Apprenticeship Minimum Wage and be undertaking a Full Framework Apprenticeship which allows the apprentice top gain Level 2 in English and Maths as well as the technical skills required in the job. A Project Initiated Apprentice is an individual that has been newly employed by a contractor or a business within the supply chain, as a direct result of the construction project. An Existing Apprentice is an individual who is already employed by a contractor or a business within the supply chain, who works on the construction project. Their time on site should provide valuable onsite experience. Of the 26 no. of apprentices employed on the project: 9 no. were defined as existing apprentices 17 no. were defined as project initiated apprentices 12 no. are attending / have attended Leeds College of Building CASE STUDY: SIR ROBERT MCALPINE SUPPORTS LOCAL APPRENTICE ON FLAGSHIP VICTORIA GATE PROGRAM Sir Robert McAlpine have employed local young people such as Aaron Ledger who has been working on the site for over two years. Through working with Sir Robert McAlpine, Aaron has been able to work towards his NVQ Level 2 in Joinery which he is studying at Leeds College of Building. On site, Aaron has been able to gain invaluable experience in a range of joinery specialisms from shuttering joinery to finishing works. Leeds College of Building have also supported Aaron, who has dyslexia, and ensured the course fits his needs. I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship scheme to anyone who wants to build on their skills and experience for future opportunities.

School / Educational Visits VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report Sir Robert McAlpine have engaged extensively with local schools and educational establishments, undertaking presentations and hosting tours of the site, including: Delivering health and safety presentations to over 300 students at local primary schools Hosting a photography competition on site for Leeds College of Art students Hosting tours of site and presentations for over 100 construction and retail students from Leeds Beckett University Hosting tours of site and presentations for students from Leeds College of Building Hosting tours of site for students from the South Leeds Academy Delivering a construction law presentation to students from BPP University, Leeds Hosting turnkey s Open Doors site visit by 60+ local students Just to say a very big thanks for taking time out of your busy schedules to talk about the site and do the site visit with us today. It is really appreciated by us, as staff, and of course our students. DAVID WOOLLEY COURSE LEADER, QUANTITY SURVEYING, LEEDS BECKETT UNIVERSITY

VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report Local Charities The project donated money, materials and general support to numerous local and national charities, including: St. Georges crypt, Leeds (monetary and cleaning product donations, and support of their charity football tournament and carol singing services) St. Gemma s Hospice, Leeds (monetary donation) Leeds General Infirmary, children s heart surgery fund (monetary donation) Alzheimer s Society (monetary donation) Salvation Army (monetary donation) East St Arts (general support)

Considerate Constructors Scheme VICTORIA GATE, LEEDS A social and economic report The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) is the national initiative set up by the construction industry to improve its image. Sites, companies and suppliers that register with the Scheme are monitored against a five-point Code of Considerate Practice, designed to encourage performance beyond statutory requirements. The Code consists of the following five sections: 1. CARE ABOUT APPEARANCE 2. RESPECT THE COMMUNITY 3. PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT 4. SECURE EVERYONE S SAFETY 5. VALUE THEIR WORKFORCE The Leeds Victoria Gate project was assessed by the CCS on 6 occasions during the duration of the project, with it continually scoring higher with each visit: DATE COMMUNITY SCORE OVERALL SCORE 12/06/14 8 out of 10 40 out of 50 10/10/14 8 out of 10 41 out of 50 16/03/15 9 out of 10 42 out of 50 28/08/15 9 out of 10 43 out of 50 14/03/16 9 out of 10 43 out of 50 13/09/16 9 out of 10 44 out of 50 As an outcome of the efforts made by the project to the local community, as well as the other four elements of the CCS, it was awarded a Bronze in the Considerate Constructors Scheme 2016 National Site Awards.

Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd Midlands & North West Region 15 Oxford Court Bishopsgate Manchester M2 3WQ Tel: 0161 237 5119 www.srm.com Latham House Paradise Street Birmingham B1 2AJ Tel: 0121 230 8040 4th Floor - West Wing, Town Centre House Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 8LY Tel: 0113 244 0806