GMI Construction Group’s (GMI) commitment to supporting local jobs as part of its £35m contract to build a train manufacturing plant in Goole, East Yorkshire, will inject at least £2.7m into the local economy.
The building and construction firm has created 250 jobs within the local supply chain and is also supporting employment skills and educational opportunities as part of its contract with Siemens Mobility Ltd.
Lee Powell, divisional managing director at GMI, said every person connected with the company working on the project lives within a 25-mile radius and that £2.7m in wages will have been paid to the local workforce by the time the contract is due for completion in March 2022.
He added: “However, the economic benefits of the GMI Construction programme will be long-lasting for the area and stretches far beyond the local wage bill.”
The site will comprise five main buildings housing train body construction, assembly, testing and commissioning, and dedicated office space. It will also create 4.5km of rail track connecting the facility to the main railway line.
Tube trains for London’s Piccadilly Line will be the first to be manufactured at the site.
It is part of the first phase of investment in Siemens Mobility’s new £200m, train manufacturing plant and rail supply chain village, covering 67 acres, which has seen contracts worth £50m contracts awarded to UK companies, the majority of which are based locally in Yorkshire.
GMI’s expertise and ground working solutions has already saved £5m from the overall cost of the project.
Lee Powell said: “We are committed to supporting local jobs and skills and we are working with employment and training initiatives in the area as well as forging links with educational establishments.”
As part of the project, GMI has created four new apprenticeships and has safeguarded a further six apprentice positions. It is also hosting educational visits and workshops for schools, colleges, and universities and will offer five university or college work placements.
Jack Sheard, from Goole, who is an apprentice Quality Surveyor, said: “Being a young apprentice with GMI is really beneficial, due to the level of support I can count on. This is a huge opportunity for me and it’s all on my doorstep.”
Siemens Mobility’s Goole development will create up to 700 direct jobs, with an additional 1,700 indirect supply chain opportunities.
