The construction team

Our construction partner for the Library of Birmingham was Carillion - a leading integrated support services company with extensive construction capabilities. The Group, whose head office was in the West Midlands, had annual revenue of over £5 billion, employed around 45,000 people and operated across the UK, in the Middle East and Canada.

Ivor Goodsite on the dangers of building sites

Carillion worked tirelessly to deliver the building on time and within budget, minimise disruption to people living and working close to the construction site, and engage with the local community in a variety of ways – from helping local tower block residents create their own garden space for growing fruit and vegetables, to teaching local school children about the dangers of building sites and giving talks in community libraries about careers in construction.

During the construction of the new Library, Carillion committed to getting 250 local people back into employment as well as creating 25 new apprenticeships. Working closely with Birmingham City Council’s Employment Access Team, this target was exceeded by over 300%

 

Joe Boxall, 23, from Shard End was the 200th person to benefit from a new construction job and Nathan Milin, 17, from Castle Vale was the 75th person to get an apprenticeship thanks to the Library of Birmingham project. They are seen here with Sir Albert Bore, Leader of Birmingham City Council.

Carillion have won a number of awards for their work on the Library of Birmingham, including the 2012 Guardian Sustainable Business Award for Social Impact and, together with Birmingham City Council’s Employment Access Team, awards in two categories at the 2012 National Skills Academy Awards.