East Midlands businesses learn about Palace project

THE LAST WORD

They attended a supplier event at Nottingham Trent University in February to meet the team delivering Parliament’s Restoration and Renewal Programme.

They discussed how the complex work can support jobs and opportunities across the East Midlands, as well as potential challenges related to skills.

Andy Haynes, commercial director at the Houses of Parliament Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority, said: “Nottingham and the East Midlands has a wealth of experience in new technology and construction in historic spaces, so it was brilliant to discuss with local business leaders how they could support the restoration of the Palace of Westminster in the future.

“Parliament represents all peoples and regions of the country, so it’s really important that we make the most of skills here in Nottingham and the wider East Midlands, as they have a huge range of skills and enthusiasm that we will need to draw on as we restore the palace.

“There was a palpable passion for delivering great service and developing skills, which the delivery authority would be proud to support in the coming years.”

The roundtable discussion involved businesses with expertise in everything from cast iron to hydraulics, working in sectors such as architecture and further education. They shared their skills and experience, and heard from the team at the Restoration and Renewal Programme about the approach to getting SMEs from UK regions involved in the project, which will take several decades to complete.

The Chamber’s director of partnerships David Pearson said: “The Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal programme is another important supply chain opportunity for our region and one we should seek to pursue with rigour, as it can help to inspire the next generation of talent in STEM industries, create apprenticeships and upskill our existing labour market.

“However, it is clear from the discussion with our members that there are some concerns to address, including the impact a major scheme like this could have in exacerbating existing skills gaps by absorbing the limited pool of workers with the relevant skills.

“By working together closely, the business community, education sector and Government can explore how to overcome these issues and ensure the legacy of this programme is not just felt in the preservation of a historic building, but in building our future workforce.”

Online and social media skills courses

High-street businesses in Rushcliffe have been invited to take part in a free “bootcamp” that will boost their online and social media knowledge.

The Rushcliffe Digital High Street Bootcamp programme is a 12-week series of webinars offered by the Chamber in partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council, running until June. Each is free to attend and takes place on Monday from 6pm to 7pm, consisting of a 45- minute presentation and 15-minute Q&A session.

These will cover topics such as developing an online and social media presence, attracting footfall and growing sales. Businesses can choose as many webinars as they wish.

Upcoming webinars include:

• 10 April: How to use social media as your online shopfront

• 17 April: Improve your customer journey with social content

• 24 April: Drive sales and customer loyalty with a CRM