Pictured above: (Back L-R) Rebecca Hinchley, William
Davis and Matthew Buckham, Midland Heart with Eden Espeut-Mills,
Lauren Butler, Dan Brookes, Aneesha Noreen and (front) Dan Platten,
William Davis demonstrating some of the Health & Safety
equipment used on construction sites
Pupils from Holly Hall Mathematics and Computing College, Dudley
were appraised this week of the Health & Safety issues
surrounding construction sites in a special presentation delivered
by Loughborough-based contractor and developer, William Davis Ltd
and Birmingham-based housing and regeneration group, Midland
Heart.
The two companies are currently working on a £16m extra
care housing development at Middlepark Road in Dudley and as part
of the project have engaged two local schools - Holly Hall and
Cherry Tree Learning Centre - in a variety of educational
initiatives all focused on the new development, including Health
and Safety as a priority.
During school assembly, Dan Platten, Health & Safety Advisor
at William Davis, demonstrated safety equipment used on
construction sites and concluded the session by launching a safety
logo/slogan design competition, which will see the winning entry
printed onto high-visibility vests for use by operatives and
visitors onsite at the nearby Middlepark Road site.
Dan commented: "Teaching youngsters about onsite Health &
Safety is an important element of our CSR policy. In the past we
have successfully worked with a number of local schools to launch a
variety of initiatives including poster competitions and artwork
for site hoardings, so to add the logo design to this portfolio is
extremely pleasing. I am looking forward to returning to the
college in a few weeks to announce the winners."
Matthew Buckham, regeneration project officer, Midland Heart
added: "Involving the local community is central to our approach
during the build of a new development. This is a chance for
budding designers to engage with work on site which otherwise might
be inaccessible in a safe and creative way."
The £16m extra-care housing scheme, scheduled for
completion in Summer 2011, consists of 132 one and two bedroom
apartments for the over 55's together with shared communal
facilities including a gym, hairdressers and restaurant.