News
Three prestigious awards for multi-million pound school construction project
THE £48.7m Haverfordwest High VC School building project has won three national awards in one week.
As well as scooping two awards in the Constructing Excellence in Wales Awards 2023, it also won Project of the Year at the Education Building Wales Awards 2023.
Opened in September 2022, the school provides an outstanding learning environment for 1,750 pupils aged 11-18, together with first-class sports and outdoor facilities that benefit not only learners, but the whole community.
Jane Harries, Headteacher of Haverfordwest High VC School, said: “It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure working with the team from Pembrokeshire County Council, Morgan Sindall and their partners, including Atkins and many locally based contractors, on the project.
“Our amazing school is the result of four years of hard work and team work culminating in giving the pupils of Haverfordwest and our neighbouring areas the learning environment they deserve.
“The Awards are recognition of the collaboration and attention to detail that was given by all to this school building fully considering the needs of the pupils and staff.”
The Constructing in Excellent Wales awards were:
Health, Safety & Wellbeing Award:
Haverfordwest High VC School: Morgan Sindall Construction, Pembrokeshire County Council, Aecom, Atkins, Dudley’s Aluminium
Integration & Collaborative Working Award:
Haverfordwest High Voluntary Controlled School & Sports Facilities: Morgan Sindall Construction, Pembrokeshire County Council, Haverfordwest High VC School, Atkins, Whitehead Building Services, Pembrokeshire Leisure Services
The HHVCS project will now be shortlisted in the national Constructing Excellence awards in November.
Project Manager Paul Williams said the team were delighted. “To then go on to win the Project of the Year at the Education Building Wales Awards 2023 shows what a fantastic school has been provided for the pupils of Haverfordwest. It’s a great achievement from all involved.”
Robert Williams, Area Director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “We’re honoured that our work on the Haverfordwest VC School project has been recognised with these three prestigious awards.
“Winning awards for Health, Safety & Wellbeing, and Integration & Collaborative Working really exemplifies our commitment to building a positive, safe, and collaborative working environment which facilitates the best possible outcomes for our projects. To win Project of the Year on top of that is a huge honour and a big thanks to the team who made it all possible.”
Simon Kneafsey, Atkins’ Architectural Project Director for HHVCS, said:
“The project was a perfect balance between the school’s community needs, the local authority’s educational vision, requirements of the new Welsh curriculum, budget constraints and delivery programme. Good teamwork and communication – one goal and it was delivered. Everyone is over the moon with the new school.
“The design of the school was driven by developing new and exciting, agile, digitally enriched educational settings which were to meet the needs of the emerging new Welsh Curriculum (independent learning and problem solving). It provides a mix of traditional classroom environments as well as breakout spaces, large group teaching stairs, and AV (audio/video) systems that could double up as cinemas and immersive environments.”
The school was funded by Pembrokeshire County Council and Welsh Government through the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme.
Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language, said: “Given the many challenges that had to be overcome to successfully deliver this project, it is fantastic to see the hard work of everyone involved being recognised by winning these prestigious awards.
“My thanks go to all those who have, in whatever way, contributed to this achievement, which I hope is only the beginning of delivering outstanding learning environments for learners and communities across Pembrokeshire.”
Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “It is a key focus of the Local Authority that health, wellbeing and sport are integrated throughout our services and the partnerships formed during this project have ensured that outstanding facilities for both our educational and community needs have been created.
“Working collaboratively with the school and Morgan Sindall we developed the Pembrokeshire Sports Village which already supports the school, the public, clubs and leagues for the county. An educationally focused campus during the school day and a thriving community hub serving both Haverfordwest and the whole county during evenings and weekends, it has ensured that our sporting landscape has been enhanced as part of this project.”
Caption
Pictured at the CEW awards are (left to right) Cllr Guy Woodham, Simon Kneafsey, Ree Amroota, Steven Richards-Downes, Jane Harries, Gareth Rees, Mike Thomas, Darren Thomas, Jon McCarthy and David Humphrey.
Business
Stena announces redundancy plan amid uncertainty for Pembrokeshire
FREIGHT carrier and ferry operator Stena Line, which runs services between Fishguard and Pembroke Dock, has announced plans to cut up to 80 staff members following an internal review.
Uncertainty looms over whether any of these redundancies will impact staff operating our local ferry services.
Stena CEO Paul Grant shared the news in an email to employees on Monday, citing a need to “future proof the company.” He explained that an internal assessment revealed the company’s current organisational structure as “too big and expensive” compared to its revenue.
The decision comes amid rising costs and increased competition in the freight and travel sectors.
According to Mr. Grant, “Cost pressure due to higher inflation has led to our customers having less money to spend, and with the introduction of the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), increasing our prices, we see a decline in volumes for both travel and freight.” Additionally, disappointing sales during the summer season and unmet market growth expectations for 2024 contributed to the restructuring.
The program, designed to strengthen Stena’s long-term business viability, includes a reduction of costs, prioritization of investments, and staff cuts that will primarily impact support functions and consultants. The workforce will be reduced by 80 positions by early 2025, along with 30 consultants also set to leave the company. Discussions with unions and work councils are expected to last several months, with all affected staff to be informed of their status by January 31, 2025.
In response to this announcement, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has demanded a meeting with Stena Line to clarify the impact of these cuts, particularly on their members.
TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust expressed disappointment over the handling of the announcement, stating: “Our members are shocked by this news and outraged that Stena has chosen to sidestep established industrial relations processes. Stena must meet with us urgently to clarify who is at risk and address the potential impacts on our members.”
The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at securing Stena Line’s future amid sustainability challenges. CEO Niclas Mårtensson acknowledged the difficult decision, stating, “Stena Line has been a successful company over the past few years; however, we need to ensure a lower cost base to be able to future proof the company. With 40 vessels in Europe and the Mediterranean, we have significant sustainability challenges ahead of us, and this program will enable us to make necessary investments for the future.”
The TSSA’s letter to Stena reiterates the union’s commitment to supporting affected employees and calls for an immediate discussion to clarify the situation, especially for staff at Fishguard who may be impacted.
News
UK government to appoint first Wales Crown Estate Commissioner
FOR the first time, the UK government will appoint a Crown Estate Commissioner dedicated to advising on matters in Wales, further integrating Welsh interests in board-level decisions. This move supports existing efforts to ensure that Wales benefits from the push for clean energy, following an agreement facilitated by the Welsh Secretary.
An amendment to the Crown Estate Bill, with cross-party backing from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats, and crossbenchers, will be accepted at today’s Lords Report Stage (Nov 5). This change mandates the appointment of a Wales-specific Commissioner through the Public Appointments process, with input from the Welsh Government. The appointee will bear “an additional responsibility” to represent Welsh conditions and interests, amplifying Wales’s voice within the Crown Estate.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has collaborated with the Treasury, The Crown Estate, House of Lords members, and the Welsh Government to secure this legislative advancement. The Crown Estate, instrumental in drawing international investment to Wales, supports projects like Floating Offshore Wind in the Celtic Sea, which promises cleaner energy and job creation.
The introduction of a Wales-specific Commissioner strengthens The Crown Estate’s mission to serve the entire UK while averting potential market fragmentation and protecting international investor confidence critical to the net-zero transition.
In a related effort, Great British Energy, the government’s new public energy firm, recently partnered with The Crown Estate to expedite renewable energy advancements. This initiative could attract up to £60bn in private investment, boosting the UK’s journey toward energy independence.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens stated: “This is a landmark step toward ensuring that Welsh prosperity is at the heart of the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower. Our nation stands to benefit hugely from investment in floating offshore wind, and we now have the representation we need to help seize that moment. This demonstrates how Wales benefits directly from its two governments working together, and I’m grateful to Lord Livermore, The Crown Estate, and others for helping to make this happen.”
Sir Robin Budenberg CBE, Chair of The Crown Estate, said: “In seeking to increase the number of Commissioners from eight to twelve, The Crown Estate welcomes the opportunity now presented by this amendment to bring even more direct knowledge and understanding of the areas in which we operate and further strengthen our ability to deliver benefit to the whole of the UK.”
Crime
Arrests made after large-scale cannabis operation raided in Pembroke Dock
POLICE in Pembroke Dock have uncovered yet another large-scale cannabis operation, as part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal farms in the area. On Monday (Nov 4), Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at a property on Dimond Street, where officers found over 500 cannabis plants in a sophisticated cultivation setup.
Two men, aged 26 and 34, have been arrested in connection with the investigation and are currently in police custody. The raid follows a series of similar operations in Pembrokeshire, targeting properties used for illegal drug cultivation.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
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