Building Briefs - April 1st

• School work continues over holidays in Edinburgh

All the upgrade work taking place is part of a major £193 million maintenance programme to improve the condition of the buildings.

Improvements taking place during the Easter holidays include classroom upgrades and new windows at Craigentinny Primary School, replacement ceilings in the kitchen and changing areas of St Mark’s RC Primary School and new lighting and ceiling replacement in classrooms and re-roofing works as part of the £3.3m investment at Balerno High School.

The programme of works and upgrades being carried out is significantly larger than in previous years. This is as a direct result of decisions in previous budgets for additional investment in the Council estate with the majority of the work taking place in schools.

For some schools, the Easter works form part of a major programme to address a backlog in maintenance requirements identified through condition surveys carried out across the estate.

Major projects in the Capital Investment Programme will also continue during the Easter break. These include several new build and early years projects including the new Frogston Primary School, replacement Castlebrae High School and new nurseries at Granton and Nether Currie Primary Schools.

All the work being carried out is in line with the latest Scottish Government and health guidance regarding Covid-19.

• Roadworks planned for C147 near Kildonan

Plans to repair and re-open the C147 on Arran are moving up a gear.

The embankment supporting the road at Auchenhew Wood, near Kildonan, was badly damaged by flood water in September 2020 and the road had to be closed for safety reasons.

Following a comprehensive investigation and complex design process, a tender for the repair works is now under way.

It is hoped that work to address the landslip and carry out repairs can begin on site in mid-May with the aim of having the road re-opened by the end of June, just before the school holiday period begins.

• Home Fix Scotland trades employment knowledge with the local community

Repairs and maintenance contractor Home Fix Scotland attended a virtual employability workshop chaired by the Inverclyde Community Development Trust last week, providing a valuable insight into the construction sector.

The Trust helps those from disadvantaged backgrounds realise their potential by delivering highly personalised programmes of support. Through successful partnerships with employers across Inverclyde, interested applicants are given access to a comprehensive range of opportunities and activities in order to help them develop the skills, networks and experiences necessary to prepare them for future employment.

Amongst those present during the careers workshop were the Department for Work and Pensions, Action for Children and Skills Development Scotland as well as a large group of interested school leavers.

From providing insight into the different skills and jobs roles within the industry, Joseph McGoldrick, temporary repairs supervisor at Home Fix Scotland (HFS) also offered a first-hand account of his own experience within the organisation, discussing career opportunities, the living wage, some of the challenges associated with covid-19 and routes into employment both though apprenticeships and education.

Prior to the workshop concluding, those interested were also given the opportunity to ask Joe questions.