WIREDGOV

For the past two days business representatives from across North Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire have had an opportunity to present to Kier, Carillion, Lend Lease and Interserve - the four contractors bidding to build the new prison for the Ministry of Justice.

Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright and the Secretary of State for Wales David Jones visited the event to meet the contractors and local businesses.

Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright said:

“This new prison will be a huge boost for the regional economy, with the creation of up to 1,000 jobs and an estimated £23m per year for the area.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our country and a real necessity for building a resilient, sustainable economy. That is why we are so keen to encourage contractors to use them in this major construction process.

“The prison will also be a first for north Wales, allowing offenders to be held closer to home, which will ensure better support for their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community on release.”

Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones said:

“I am pleased that many local companies have expressed an interest in helping provide the services required to build the new north Wales prison.

“By improving the infrastructure across the prison estate, the new Wrexham-based prison will bring many employment opportunities to the region.

“We are committed to encouraging smaller businesses to bid for contracts, so it is good to see so many local suppliers actively seeking the opportunities that creating a new prison provides.”

Cllr Neil Rogers, Wrexham County Borough Council Leader, said:

“We are very keen to ensure that local companies benefit from the construction of the prison and this event is an excellent opportunity for them to meet and present their products and services to the prime contractors who are bidding to construct the prison.

“Over 100 Wrexham companies will have attended over the two days which shows the level of interest local industry has in this development and the potential it has to benefit from it.”

Notes to editors:

1. The event was arranged by the North Wales Leadership Board, which includes Wrexham County Borough Council, in conjunction with other local authorities, and was held at Redwither Tower on Wrexham’s Industrial Estate on Tuesday and Wednesday
2. Businesses covering general building services, alarm systems, cleaning, fencing, electrical services, metalwork fabrication, painting and decorating, agency labour supplies, plastering, security, waste management and printing were all there.
3. The prison will be built at the former Firestone Factory, in Wrexham. Work is expected to start on site in the summer with the prison fully operational by late 2017. Outline planning permission for the prison was granted last week
4. The last prison to be built in the UK saw £75m spent on employment, 113 (SMEs) employed and £30m of construction work provided by SMEs within 50 miles of the West Midlands site.