Key £10.6m scheme will be just the job
Workers from the West Midlands will be signed up to work on a new £10.6million shopping, leisure, and office development.
Businesses in the region are also set to benefit from the Interchange 10 project.
Construction firm Balfour Beatty is building the four-storey retail and Grade A office block next to the Wolverhampton Bus Station, and will be hiring local workers and spending millions of pounds with local contractors wherever possible.
Spokeswoman Sharon Willis said: "Balfour Beatty is committed to supporting local businesses, recently announcing its pledge to spend £1 billion with Small and Medium Enterprises in 2014, the highest of any main contractor to date.
She said it was looking to bring in businesses based within 15 miles of Wolverhampton and added: "We are also committed to sourcing local employment where appropriate."
The firm said it couldn't say how much West Midlands companies could benefit from the project as it had not yet commissioned all of the contractors for the project.
Mrs Willis said: "We spent approximately £35 million in the Wolverhampton area last year with companies specialising in electrical installations, security, floor coverings, technical consulting and more."
Bosses at the construction giant say they also want to use the development as an opportunity for students and apprentices to get hands-on experience.
Mrs Willis said: "We intend to provide work placements for two apprentices from Wolverhampton College during their relevant trade activity, as well as two-week summer placements for students from local schools and colleges with an interest in construction management."
Pre-arranged site tours for schools and colleges would also be available.
The University of Wolverhampton is another group hoping to work closely with the company.
Paul Hampton, head of employability at the university's science and engineering faculty, said: "We will look to sign a memorandum of understanding to enable our students to gain work placements, internships and other relevant work experience."
Work is due to start on the development this month and is expected to be completed in just over a year.
The first tenant signed up to the new building, Greene King, will open a Hungry Horse family-friendly pub restaurant on the ground floor. The company has submitted applications to Wolverhampton City Council for a premises licence and a table and chairs licence, which will be determined later this month.
Negotiations are also advanced with two other businesses interested in moving into Interchange 10.
