Rugby building contractor doesn't let lockdown stop school construction

Published by

Nicky Godding

Rugby-based construction company Stepnell has made significant progress with three of its education projects in the southern region - Gordon’s School, Canford School and The Woodroffe School.

The projects have recently reached substantial construction milestones and contribute to Stepnell’s ever-growing portfolio of education clients.

Located in Woking, Surrey, Gordon’s School’s new sports facility was completed in October following a £6 million, 36-week programme that continued through lockdown. The modern build – designed by NVB Architects – includes a 1,223 square metre sports hall with associated changing rooms and supporting spaces. Stepnell also installed a new, all-weather 3G pitch with the help of S&C Slatter to provide a high-quality playing surface for both football and rugby.

Rob Speirs, regional director at Stepnell, said: “Stepnell is continuing to strengthen its position as a leading contractor in this sector and we are proud of our involvement in these projects that will help to facilitate learning for generations to come.”

Throughout lockdown, Stepnell also remained on site at Canford School in Wimborne, Dorset, which is now gearing up for the next phase of its new, 56-bed boarding house. The £3.9 million development, which also includes a garage and external works such as paving, asphalt, fencing and top soiling, is due to be complete in June 2021.

Stepnell also due to start on site in January 2021 at The Woodroffe School, won through Dorset Council’s Smaller Capital Works Framework The £2 million development will include a new, two-storey teaching block with classrooms and a group learning space, library resource centre and additional office space to help expand the school’s academic offering.

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.