Halfway through and the project is on time and on budget!

Jim Gregory acted as external quality advisor for GQA, the awarding and qualifications-writing organisation that wrote the Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Glass Processing. He commented: “Having observed Katherine at work and interviewed her as part of the EQA process, it was clear that she is very experienced in her role at Recclesia. During the assessment she demonstrated her skill as a stained glass conservator.

“In conversation with Katherine, her knowledge and enthusiasm for the glass sector she is involved in was clearly evident. It is always a good thing when people understand the value of qualifications as a way of further developing their knowledge, their skills and their careers, and I am very pleased to have been able to support Katherine in her achievement. I’m sure she will be an inspiration to other people thinking of entering the industry.”

Katherine herself added: “Vocational qualifications are not only a great means of developing a person’s career: they also play a role in helping to make companies competitive in the markets in which they operate. We are one of the few conservation companies in the UK that continues to maintain a full in-house staff of conservators and traditionally skilled craftsmen and women.”

Recclesia Stained Glass specialises in the conservation and repair of historic and listed buildings, churches, ancient sites and ruins. q • More information on Recclesia is available from www.recclesia.com. More information on NVQs and other qualifications is available at www.gqaqualifications.com.

[IN OCTOBER Manchester Council’s Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee received an update report on the restoration of the Town Hall. It marked the halfway point of the ‘construction phase’ of the project.

The report stated that: “…the extremely high quality of work already carried out has been recognised by bodies including Historic England, the Victorian Society and the Considerate Contractors’ Scheme – and showcased with the reopening to the public of a completed part of the expanded Albert Square.”

The high level of social value the project has produced was highlighted. “Some 237 new jobs have been created through the project, with 40% of these filled by Manchester residents. So far 75 apprenticeships (level two and three) have been created, with 68 of them taken up by Manchester people, and a further 48 higher level apprenticeships. Our Town Hall has also provided 110 work placements and almost 6,000 hours of volunteering on community and charity projects in the city.”

Pictured are apprentices Abdul and Matt, who joined the Our Town Hall project team in 2018, with Mace and Purcell respectively.

The report does warn of possible pitfalls in the ensuing months.

“The unique nature of the project also means that, although survey work was carried out in advance, further challenges are being discovered as the project team get up close to previously inaccessible areas and into the fabric of the building.

“In some cases these mean more extensive work is required than originally anticipated – for example because of the crumbling condition of stonework, guttering and pipes. In other cases this can cause design delays as bespoke solutions are required – for example to meet the challenge of enabling the building to meet modern fire safety standards without undermining its heritage.

“Risks are being constantly assessed and addressed but with only around half of the construction phase complete there is still a long way to go. While the project is still reporting to budget, sophisticated computer modelling shows that if 100% of the potential risks occur the realistic worst case scenario would be a £17m overspend – equivalent to around 5% of the overall budget.”

Cllr Rabnawaz Akbar, Executive Member for Finance, said: “The project team have kept a tight grip on everything, but in a period of exceptionally high inflation and considerable market volatility it’s important that we’re clear-sighted on the budget pressures and the work which is being done to minimise them.”

The projected date for completion of the construction work is still June 2024, but is under review. q