"Build, build, build" says Boris on visit to Speller Metcalfe's Dudley site

Published by

Nicky Godding

“Build, build, build,” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he visited Malvern-headquartered Speller Metcalfe’s Institute of Technologies (IOT) project in Dudley, West Midlands on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister was on site to learn about the innovative project that is being delivered on behalf of Dudley College of Technology, before using his speech at the Advance II centre to announce a major series of shake ups to UK infrastructure.

Speller Metcalfe’s project lead Alex Garwood-Gowers led Mr Johnson on a tour of the site, as they discussed project innovations before introducing him to members of the site team, where he spoke of his enthusiasm for the construction industry to ‘keep digging.’

During his speech, the PM highlighted the UK’s position as a country at the forefront of technology, stating, “the most successful societies will be the most innovative.”

The Institute of Technologies is a key example of the construction industry doing just that. Procured under the Integrated Project Insurance or ‘IPI’ methodology, this next-generation procurement model unlocks the potential of collaborative working by aligning the interests of all team members with the client. As a result, waste and risk are reduced while efficiency - both in terms of time and cost - improves.

IOT is the third such scheme in the UK, all of which have been delivered by Speller Metcalfe (previously Dudley College ‘Advance II’ and Derby Silk Mill, which is currently on site.)

With all three projects located in the Midlands, these schemes are testament to the region’s ability to both innovate and compete with the best in construction.

“At IOT, following a pause on site at the start of the pandemic to ensure we could work within social distancing guidelines, works are now progressing at pace,” said project lead Alex. “Today has been a great opportunity to show the PM how Midlands-based companies like Speller Metcalfe are delivering much needed, forward-thinking infrastructure for Dudley and the wider Midlands region.”

The £26 million Institute of Transformational Technologies will deliver industry focused level 4+ programmes for the transformational sectors of advanced manufacturing, modern construction methodologies and medical engineering and is due to complete in 2021.

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.