Around 200 new construction jobs are to be created with the start of building work on the new acute hospital at Enniskillen, the News Letter has learned.
The Western Health and Social Care Trust has confirmed it is working with the selected tenderer for
the new South West acute hospital, the Northern Ireland Health Group, to bring maximum benefit to the local economy from the £267m investment.
A Working Group has been established to promote employment and training opportunities the project will offer when on-site works begin in Spring.
The Working Group includes Department of Employment and Learning, South West College, Invest Northern Ireland, and Construction Industry Training Board which are working in partnership with the Trust, Northern Ireland Health Group and the Construction Joint Venture, FCC Elliott Healthcare.
The construction of the New Acute Hospital will require a 850 strong workforce and it is expected as many as 200 new jobs could be created. the Joe Lusby the Trust's deputy chief executive said: "The Western Trust is focused on working in partnership with regional development agencies to maximize this substantial investment in health infrastructure.
A key part of this involves creating employment and developing the local supply chain. We are delighted that 200 new construction jobs could be created and our local Job and Benefits offices will begin to advertise the first tranche of job vacancies from February 2009.
"This will begin a recruitment drive to run through to summer 2010. With the help of working group partners, we will work to provide training and support to suitable local firms to prepare for the tendering process for the project," he said.
Main contactor, FCC Elliott Healthcare will be inviting expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced firms for a number of contracts required from 2009 to 2012. Part of this programme will include an opportunity for potential suppliers to 'Meet the Buyer' and FCC Elliott will host a series of open mornings at the Enniskillen and Omagh campuses of South West College from 9am to 1pm on March 13 at Omagh Campus and on March 20 at Enniskillen Campus.
South West College is working with FCC Elliott Healthcare, the Construction Industry Training Board and Invest Northern Ireland to develop a training programme to help suitable local firms prepare for the sub-contractor tendering process.
Malachy McAleer, head of curriculum and business development at the college said, "The South West College is delighted to be in a position to add value to this pivotal project for South West, which is a key part of the College's drive to support local industry. We are working with the Construction Industry Board to offer assistance to companies who have the knowledge and skills to become sub-contractors to FCC Elliott, but who need help with the tendering process for a large scale project like the new acute Hospital. We plan to roll out a training programme from the Spring 2009, corresponding with the timing of the advertisement of these contracts.'
Based on current project timetable, construction of the new acute hospital is planned to begin this year, with completion Spring 2012. This is subject to the approval of the Full Business Case for the project by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
