City centre project creates new work opportunities

The Kier Group workforce and sub-contractors attached to Swansea Council's Y Storfa project number up to around 45 every day.

Among them - helped into work by council community benefits initiative Beyond Bricks and Mortar - are workers hired by the firm in the early days of the scheme.

Once complete, Y Stofa will be a key part of the council's £1bn regeneration of Swansea; it'll be a gathering place and a source of information for people across the city.

Trainee site manager Jack Shaddick is a Kier degree apprentice studying construction management.

A student at Sheffield Hallam University, he said: "I'm proud to be working on such an important building in my home city."

Joe Eynon is on a 12-month placement with Kier, specialising in design management.

An architectural engineering student at Plymouth University, he said: "I was attracted to the construction industry because it offers the ability to make towns and cities more inviting and environmentally friendly."

Andy Gough, of Swansea, is a labourer, traffic marshal and hoist operator.

His previous experience included warehouse and factory work. He said: "After being unemployed for around seven months, this Y Storfa opportunity is having a great positive impact on my life."

Council cabinet member Elliott King, said: "It's great to see new work opportunities coming as a result of Beyond Bricks and Mortar linking in with our fantastic Y Storfa development.

"It illustrates our holistic approach to regeneration, allowing local communities to benefit from physical regeneration projects, particularly getting people into work."

Ian Rees, regional director at Kier, said: "We are incredibly proud of the team we have working on Y Storfa. 

"It's fantastic to hear that we are having such a positive impact on the lives of people in the area and will endeavour to continue doing so."

Y Storfa, in the former BHS store at the corner of Oxford Street and Princess Way, is on course for completion this year. 

Council-run services based there will include the contact centre, Housing Options, lifelong learning and the main public library and new children's library, as well as the West Glamorgan Archive Service and other useful resources.

Non-council tenants at Y Storfa are set to include the Swansea office of Careers Wales, the main base of Citizens Advice Swansea Neath Port Talbot, and Swansea University's South Wales Miners' Library.

It will encourage footfall for local businesses as the council continues its £1bn regeneration programme. 

Council leader Rob Stewart said: "Y Storfa will be at the heart of our regeneration drive, standing next to Castle Square which is due to receive a greener new look.

"It's great to see progress being made on our repurposing of this very large city centre site for public services.

"This area of the city centre is being transformed with a great mix of public and private sector investment."

Funders of Y Storfa include the Welsh Government Transforming Towns programme.

Photo: Members of the Kier workforce at Y Storfa from left: Jack Shaddick, Joe Eynon, Andy Gough.