MGL Group is delighted to be part of the project team creating the new Durham Investigative Hub are celebrating a major new milestone. We pride ourselves on being a responsible and sustainable business and are passionate about contributing our experience and resources for the wider good of the community.
The Durham Gate development, in Spennymoor, which will provide more than 6,600m2 of up-to-date accommodation including 48 modern cells, has been intentionally designed to improve local opportunities, life chances and wellbeing for local people.
County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen set an ambitious goal to generate £6m in social value through the scheme by securing local contracts, creating new jobs and increasing opportunities for people to obtain and develop new skills.
Long before the project’s completion date, she said the development has surpassed its original aims with more than £10m now spent with local businesses in the force area including MGL Group.
We have allocated a trainee quantity surveyor for the lifespan of the development and recently assigned one of its General Construction Operative (GCO) apprentices to the project. We have also attended career events, mock interviews and supported local charity events and campaigns as part of its involvement.
On top of this, the project, which has proved controversial, has generated new employment and work experience placements while the team has volunteered more than 150 hours with local charities including housing charity DASH and St Cuthbert’s Hospice.
Furthermore, over £18m of the overall contract was spent in the North East.
Once completed next spring, the hub will provide a range of office space, interview rooms, Crime Scene Investigation provision, evidence stores, virtual courts, CCTV, an energy centre, medical facilities and forensic examination rooms in addition to 48 modern cells.
I am proud of the outstanding work that has been taking place to draw out the full potential of this development and leave a positive legacy across our communities. When we embarked on this project, I had every faith we would honour our pledge to make a difference. What I wasn’t expecting was how quickly we would exceed our own expectations and build on our commitments with further support for our workforce and communities. This is an example of partnership working at its best and shows what can be achieved when public organisations work in tandem with the community and businesses to make their limited resources go even further.
Joy Allen, County Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner
(Image: DURHAM PCC)
