A Shropshire building contractor has been awarded a multi-million pound contract to design and build an innovation centre at Staffordshire University.
The deal, worth £3.7 million, will see Oswestry-based Pave Aways Ltd design and construct a state-of-the-art Healthcare Innovation Centre at Staffordshire University’s Stafford Centre of Excellence for Healthcare Education.
The innovation centre is part of £23.7 million investment made available under the Government’s Getting Building Fund to the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SSLEP).
The project will incorporate clinical simulation and immersion suites enabling healthcare professionals and students to explore and develop new patient safety techniques.
A new entrance to the site will also be created alongside the reconfiguration and extension of existing car parking on campus.
The contract win follows on from Pave Aways’ handover of a brand-new clinical suite and immersive rooms located in the Ashley 2 building at the university’s Leek Road campus in Stoke-on-Trent earlier this month.
Managing director Steven Owen said: “We are delighted to have won this competitive tender. We have a strong track record within the further education sector, demonstrating our understanding and ability to deliver high-quality construction that meets the needs of our clients.
“The contract will provide a valuable economic boost to Stafford and the surrounding area as we will be employing locally based site staff and businesses in our supply chain within a 30-mile radius.”
Pave Aways is an experienced contractor in the education sector counting the University of Wolverhampton, Harper Adams University, Glyndwr University in Wrexham, and many primary, secondary, and private schools among its clients.
It recently won an £8.44 million contract from Shropshire Council to build carbon-neutral school buildings to extend primary provision in Shrewsbury.
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Andrew Proctor, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Digital) at Staffordshire University, said: “We’re very excited to see work commence on our new healthcare innovation centre in Stafford with Pave Aways. Through our Connected University strategy, we are committed to creating inspirational and digitally-led environments that empower and bring communities together.
“The facilities will help fuel the local economy and transform the health workforce by encouraging and supporting health technology start-ups, creating jobs, and promoting economic growth in the region.
"Alongside this, students and partners will benefit from leading healthcare education through our new clinical simulation and immersion suites. We look forward to seeing our campus and wider communities transformed through this exciting development.”
