Building bridges – why social value matters

The Tyne Bridge is an icon of the North East, symbolising the social and economic connections between Newcastle, Gateshead and the wider region, both literally and figuratively.

Fitting, then, that the multi-million-pound project to restore the structure to its former glory has become an emblem of contractor Esh Construction’s long-standing commitment to building links with communities it serves.

Led by its dedicated social value team, Esh has spent more than ten years inspiring the next generation to consider careers in construction and engineering, while also volunteering time and expertise to local projects.

The Tyne Bridge restoration, which saw Esh appointed contractor in 2022 on behalf of Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council, has built on existing partnerships with schools, colleges and universities, local government, charities and community organisations to offer a range of learning opportunities for young people and introduce younger children to STEM careers.

Kate Marshall, social value manager for the North East and Tees Valley, says: “Work is progressing well on the Tyne Bridge; we’ve hit a number of milestones in recent weeks and parts of the bridge will soon be visible to the public where blasting, repair works and repainting is completed.

“The social value projects we’re carrying out in connection with the Tyne Bridge restoration, and other contracts across the region, are part of our Constructing Local strategy, a framework built on six Es – employment, economy, education, engagement, employees and ‘even greener’.

“Esh has been delivering social value for ten years, but we have had education programmes in place since 2009, including our award- winning Building My Skills programme, which has supported more than 60,000 students since its inception.”

Esh Construction’s social value team carries out almost daily school visits to educate and inspire young people about the jobs available in the construction industry.

A new partnership with the North East Combined Authority has boosted the number of schools receiving careers-linked lessons by training careers champions in schools to deliver Esh’s award-winning Get into STEM workshops, enabling the lesson kits to be rotated for wider reach.

The Tyne Bridge project has also offered 450 days of work experience to further and higher education students, including longer-term placements for Newcastle University civil engineering students and Newcastle College T-level students.

And since April last year, it has engaged with more than 2000 students from both Newcastle and Gateshead schools.

Kate says: “The partnership with the combined authority means we can reach so many more primary schools, inspiring children as young as four to consider a STEM career when they are older.

“We are working with schools in Byker to raise aspirations by taking hands-on activities into classrooms.

“We talk about things like bricklaying, but also about quantity surveying and planning roles.

“In secondary schools, we target curriculum subjects including maths and science with our Construction in the Curriculum workshops, to make them aware that what they do in the classroom has a purpose and an application in the real world.

“We want to start conversations with children and young people, and help them see what’s out there for them.”

The Tyne Bridge project has also strengthened relationships with charities around the region.

From workshops at the Discovery Museum to donations of time and funds to local veterans’ charities, Esh Construction has supported a cross-section of organisations close to the heart of the city.

A dedicated base, known as the Information Hub, has opened on the quayside to offer a place where local businesses, interested residents or even visitors to the city can find out more about the project.

Mindful the Tyne Bridge can also be a sensitive location, 94 members of staff working on the site have been trained in suicide prevention, while workshops by the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity have been

arranged to support and educate its workforce in mental health awareness.

With the Tyne Bridge restoration project having historical significance across the region, Esh worked in partnership with Radius and VR Care to develop a one-of-a-kind tour, which immerses viewers into the history of the iconic North East landmark through 360-degree footage and archive content from over the years.

The VR programme was officially launched in local care homes to help people with dementia evoke memories of their younger days in the city.

Kate adds: “We incorporated a British Sign Language interpreter into the VR video presentation, to ensure as broad a range of people as possible have access to the historical significance of the Tyne Bridge through our social value programmes.”

The work done by the social value team will have a lasting legacy, inspiring the next generation of construction workers and engineers.

Kate says: “Esh was founded as a family company, and it still has a family feel today.

“We know that when we go on site we are causing a level of disruption to those in the local area.

“Of course, we try to minimise that as much as possible across our schemes, while maximising the social and economic value for the local area.

“At Esh, we have a slogan – construction is what we do, but constructing local is who we are.”

 

Esh Construction

www.tynebridge.org
www.eshgroup.co.uk/constructing-local
LinkedIn: Esh Group