New Gwynedd Special School Benefits Education And Local Economy

With the multi-million pound Ysgol Hafod Lon Newydd project in Penrhyndeudraeth nearing completion, a number of local sub-contractors and tradespeople are benefitting from work on the site to construct the special school that will serve the children of the Dwyfor and Meirionnydd areas of the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of Gwynedd’s Sustainable Procurement Policy for major projects, the Council has made every effort to identify ways in which the new school project could deliver benefits over and above the building itself. This included working with main contractors Wynne Construction to encourage Gwynedd companies to become sub-contractors on the project as well as ensuring the construction provided training opportunities for local tradespeople. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

With the school itself set to open later in the autumn, the project has so far enabled: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The appointment of Celtic Heritage Ltd a Gwynedd based construction firm, AER Cymru Cyf and CDL Partitions Ltd both based in Penrhyndeudraeth as sub- contractors employing local people;
Specialist dry lining and plastering company CDL partitions created two new jobs as part of the project;
Over 80 weeks of NVQ training completed by local sub-contractors on the project with 5 apprentices receiving work experience amounting to 92 weeks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Mandy Williams-Davies, Gwynedd Council cabinet Member for the economy who has responsibility for procurement matters said: “As part of the Council’s Keeping the Benefit Local scheme, we are committed to doing as much as we can to ensure that local companies and sub-contractors can make the most from high-level public service contracts like the project to develop the new Ysgol Hafod Lon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Whilst it is important we remember that procurement regulations prohibit councils from insisting that local firms receive contracts, as part of Gwynedd Council’s procurement procedures, we make every effort to include social clauses that make it easier for the county’s companies to benefit from major contracts like this one in Penrhyndeudraeth. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s fantastic to see that a number of Gwynedd businesses have secured work as part of this major investment which has provided fantastic work experience for students and apprentices. Main contractors Wynne Construction have supported our commitment to keeping as much as possible of the benefits within the local economy by employing many local staff and contractors and supporting local businesses in their supply chains.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Gareth Thomas, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for Education, added: “Not only is this project delivering the best educational facilities for the area’s pupils, it also underlines what we can achieve when positive community benefits are incorporated into the tender process. I have been delighted to see a number of Gwynedd-based companies working on the project throughout the construction. We now look forward to seeing the school opening its doors to pupils later in the autumn.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ysgol Hafod Lon Newydd will benefit from the latest facilities and resources to include modern and well equipped classrooms, a hydrotherapy pool, therapy rooms, sensory equipment, suitable outdoor areas for play and learning as well as a garden and café. The school will open in the autumn and has been part funded by the Welsh Government through the 21st Century Schools Programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​