Council House refurbishment set to offer opportunities to residents

Details of the commitment are set out in the full business case for the extensive electrical works to be discussed by the council’s Cabinet next week (18 May 2021).

The £32.5m scheme will see the Council House, the Council House extension and part of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery undergo extensive electrical refurbishment to both modernise the building and ensure the safety of councillors, staff and visitors who use the different parts of it.

Under the Birmingham Business Charter for Social Responsibility, contractor ISG has made a series of commitments to ensure local businesses, people and schools will also benefit from the project, in particular those within the Ladywood and Bordesley and Highgate wards which cover the city centre.

These include:

• To employ six local people to work on the construction phase for over 12 months
• Employ a further five people who are long-term unemployed
• Provide a range of apprenticeships to support young people
• Use local sub-contractors and honour a ‘buy local’ commitment
• 144 hours of staff hours to work with the local community (engaging with schools, offering virtual and face to face work experience)

Under the Charter, there is also a commitment to support a green, sustainable environment through reducing carbon dioxide by 21 tons during the project.

Cllr Tristan Chatfield, Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, said: “Ensuring local people and businesses can benefit from projects which bring employment and education opportunities to our city, is a key undertaking of Birmingham’s Business Charter for Social Responsibility.

“This scheme will create at least 11 jobs – five of which will provide opportunities for people in long-term unemployment – as well as apprenticeships and ensuring materials and support are all sourced locally. So not only is this project making this iconic building fit for the 21st century, it’s also helping provide future employment for our citizens as well.”