Scheduled site tours take place at site of South Tyneside College

Community and stakeholder engagement continues to be a major component of the activities around the build of the new South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School.

Members of South Tyneside Pledge, largely from the borough’s private sector community, visited the site to learn about progress to date from the project delivery team at Castle and Head of STEM and Green Initiatives at South Tyneside College, Neil Bowen.  

Castle and the college are supporters of the South Tyneside Pledge, which is based on a commitment by firms in the borough to boost the local economy by working together and providing employment opportunities for local people.

Constructing Excellence North East (CENE), whose members, all operate within the region’s construction and built environments, are also to visit the site, eager to learn of the operational issues and technical challenges the Castle team has so far faced and overcome.

As well as networking opportunities for local businesses, the site tours provide an opportunity to see behind the scenes at one of the major regeneration developments currently taking place in the North East.  Future plans will see schools, industry employers and other stakeholders invited to tour the site and find out more.

The college will create a 15,000 sq. metre campus on King Street, South Shields. It will also include the repair and upgrade of the listed building on Barrington Street and the conversion of the former BT building into student accommodation. The project is a partnership between the college and South Tyneside Council and is being delivered by award-winning construction company Castle. It is being funded by Tyne Coast College, the North East Combined Authority as part of North East Mayor Kim McGuinness’ drive to revitalise high streets, South Tyneside College, the Department for Education and UK Government.

Chris Meadowcroft, operations director at Castle, said: “We are very keen to engage with a wide spectrum of community and business bodies as they are key stakeholders in this project. We want them to build connections with the college and to understand the profound impact it will have on the future career opportunities of the residents of South Tyneside and beyond. 

“As a construction company it is particularly pleasing to welcome the members of CENE who are so heavily focussed on the construction sector and built environment. It is always interesting to get feedback from our peers, especially on a project of such significance.”

Neil Bowen, Head of STEM and Green Initiatives for South Tyneside College, said; “This project represents a once in a generation investment in the future of skills, training and opportunity in South Tyneside.

“As a college, we are determined to ensure this development becomes a catalyst for skills, innovation and new career pathways across the region and these visits give people the chance to understand how the development will strengthen skills, boost local employment and create new opportunities for young people and adults across South Tyneside.”

Cllr Tracey Dixon, leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “The new South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School will play a vital role in shaping the skills, aspirations and future careers of our residents.

“The South Tyneside Pledge is all about working together to strengthen our local economy, create opportunities for local people and keep investment within the borough. It’s fantastic to see so many organisations engaging with this development, and as construction progresses, we’re excited to see it generating new connections and long-lasting benefits for our communities.”