Community and stakeholder engagement is a key element of a growing number of contracts that Castle is managing.
It is a specialist area and, because it is so important, we have a dedicated team that leads on external communications.
Indeed, one of the largest stakeholder programmes we have ever undertaken, is just underway.
It is for the relocation of South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School. The £95m college relocation project is a partnership between Tyne Coast College and South Tyneside Council. It is being funded by Tyne Coast College, the North East Combined Authority, DfE and UK Government.
This is a project of huge importance to South Tyneside as a whole and South Shields, in particular. There is a raft of stakeholders that need to be informed and consulted with – residents, students, the media, local politicians and the business sector.
The project will create a 15,000 sq. metre campus on King Street. It will include the repair and upgrade of a listed building on Barrington Street, the conversion of the former BT building into student accommodation and the development of units within the Readhead area to create additional dedicated college teaching space.
From September, in partnership with South Tyneside College, Castle will engage with a number of schools that have established links with the college, to offer site visits, work experience and in-school presentations to highlight the varied career paths that construction can offer.
As the project progresses, Castle, in collaboration with the college, will invite stakeholders, careers leaders, construction students, heads of secondary schools, community groups and businesses to meet key personnel associated with the build and learn more about its progress.
Supporting the stakeholder team is a dedicated website that will hold up-to-the-minute information, such as
Andrew Dawson, managing director at Castle, said: “The relocation of South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School will bring huge benefits to the borough and wider region. We also understand that the project will be of huge interest to a vast range of people in the borough, regionally, nationally and, in terms of the marine school, internationally.
“We have put a very strong emphasis on community and stakeholder engagement and have appointed a dedicated team who will build relationships and ensure a regular flow of communication. We look forward to sharing news and updates during the course of the project as we deliver an outstanding facility that will play a key role in shaping the futures of so many people in South Tyneside and beyond.”
The community engagement website is: https://www.castlecommunity.co.uk
