- 03/12/2015
- Posted by: Joyce Watson MS
- Category: Feature
The team behind Llanelli’s new look Ysgol Ffwrnes have been acclaimed at the National Assembly for Wales.
The state-of-the-art combined nursery and primary school was one of three west Wales construction projects showcased at a Senedd event on Wednesday (2 December). The A477 St. Clears to Red Roses Improvement and South West Wales Regional Shared Apprenticeship schemes were also commended.
Assembly Member Joyce Watson congratulated the projects. The Labour Mid and West Wales AM is chair of the Assembly’s cross-party group for the construction industry. She said:
“With its world-class, environmentally friendly features and inspiring indoor and outdoor spaces, Ysgol Ffwrnes is a model school and an outstanding construction project.
“I have been involved with the shared apprenticeship scheme for a number of years, since it was pioneered by Carmarthenshire Construction Training Association, so it’s fantastic to see it go from strength to strength – supporting young people and local contractors alike.”
Mrs Watson discussed the multi-award winning school project with Jon Williams, business development director at Llanelli firm WRW Construction, Andrew Lewis of Austin-Smith:Lord architects and Carmarthenshire Council planning officer, Paul Roberts.
It achieved a top rating in the world’s leading sustainability assessment, BREEAM – the first Welsh primary school to do so and one of only three in the UK.
Winner of the Constructing Excellence in Wales award for Sustainability, the judges also singled out for praise the project’s management and the local benefits it delivered – 21,000 hours of paid work for locally employed people and 11,480 hours of work for apprentices, trainees and new entrants to the industry.
CYFLE Building Skills was winner of the Leadership & People Development Award. The successful shared apprenticeship scheme currently supports around 140 apprentices.
The A477 St. Clears to Red Roses Improvement project, meanwhile, secured a top award from the Institute of Civil Engineers. The £68m five-mile road opened in April 2014 ahead of time and under budget.
For more information about Joyce Watson AM’s work, contact her office on 0300 200 7092 / www.joycewatson.org.uk
