Blackpool's Selected Bidder

Blackpool Council is today (Thurday 1 July) announcing that the Eric Wright Group has been chosen as the selected bidder to deliver the £180 Million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

BSF is a government funded programme designed to remodel or rebuild every secondary school in the country.

Not only will Blackpool students have new buildings to learn in, the whole way they are taught will be transformed. Flexible working spaces, state-of-the art IT equipment and community facilties are just some of the changes Blackpool residents can expect to see as the new schools take shape.

Following a detailed selection process the Eric Wright Group of Bamber Bridge was the successful consortia to be awarded the contract which will see them deliver a range of major capital projects to Blackpool’s schools.

David Lund, Executive Director for Children, Adults & Families Department said “This is a significant day for Blackpool. I wish to congratulate the Eric Wright Group being appointed as selected bidder for delivery of our BSF Programme.

The Eric Wright Group and its partners have convinced us that it has the vision, determination and capacity to work with us to rebuild and refurbish all of our schools in a way that will make a significant difference to teaching, learning and the future prosperity of Blackpool.

This is the biggest investment in our schools for well over a generation. Reaching this point is excellent news for the young people, teachers and local communities of the town.

This announcement is also fantastic news for Blackpool’s economy as Eric Wright has made a commitment to working with local suppliers and recruiting from this area.”

Since September 2009 Blackpool Council has been working with two bidders and carrying out an in-depth evaluation of their proposals before selecting the Eric Wright Group.

Richard Turpin, speaking on behalf of the Eric Wright Group said: “Securing selected bidder on Blackpool BSF is a tremendous achievement for everyone involved on the project from within both Blackpool Council and the Eric Wright Group.

In particular, the enthusiasm, commitment and vision of the Blackpool team throughout the process has been fantastic and we feel immensely privileged to have therefore been offered this once in a lifetime opportunity to work alongside them to transform the education of current and future generations of Blackpool’s young people.

The BSF programme gives Eric Wright and Blackpool Council an unprecedented opportunity to combine resources and skill sets to ensure the delivery of exemplary schools, drawing upon best practice and innovation from around the world.

For the Eric Wright Group, Blackpool BSF goes beyond the delivery and future operation of new schools and extends to the whole of the local economy to ensure that Blackpool capitalises on the significant investment being made in its school infrastructure.

The first schools to be delivered under the BSF programme will be a new build at Highfield Humanities College and a major remodelling of St Mary’s Catholic College incorporating a new build scheme for Christ the King Catholic Primary School with work expected to start this year.

Stephen Tierney, Headteacher at St Mary’s said: “We are delighted that Blackpool Council has selected a consortium to take forward the exciting and ambitious plans for schools across the borough.

The plans put together by the Eric Wright Group for St. Mary's are inspirational and staff who have had their first opportunity to view the building programme as a whole have genuinely had their breath taken away.  Over the coming few months we hope to give all students, parents and members of the Catholic and local community the opportunity to see the fantastic designs and building being planned on the St Mary's site.

We believe these plans will totally transform the education and life chances of young people as well as providing a beacon of excellence for the Catholic community on the Fylde coast.”

The remaining schools across Blackpool will be delivered over a five year programme which will see a new build at Palatine Sports College, Beacon High School and Highfurlong Special School as well as remodelled schools at Bispham High School, Collegiate, Montgomery and Park Special School.

(Left to right) Richard Turpin, a director of Eric Wright Group, Jeremy Hartley, Managing Director, Eric Wright Group, David Lund, Cllr Peter Collins, Executive Member for Children and Young Peoples Services and Carl Baker, Assistant Director for Transforming Schools

Artist's impression of how Highfield Humanities College could look. Image supplied with the permission of the Eric Wright Group.