New apprentice training centre and depot opens in Salford

A new apprentice training centre and depot has opened in Salford.

Salix Homes contractor and Oldham-based regeneration and refurbishment specialists Emanuel Whittaker has set up the new facility on Missouri Avenue in Weaste.

The company which has long term contract wins in Salford expects to create new jobs and support local labour.

Emanuel Whittaker began trading in Oldham in 1837 and will use the facility as an office, depot and training centre for its apprentices currently working with Salix Homes onour multi-million pound investment programme.

Managing Director Clive Newton said: “Having secured continuity of work in Salford we wanted to demonstrate our commitment to the area. The new office will help us to create sustainable employment, source local suppliers and subcontractors and use local services.”

The company, which works with social landlords across the North West to refurbish their housing stock, was recently awarded a contract worth over £7 million by Salix Homes to help deliver its £22million improvement programme to homes across the city over the next two years.

Mark Foster, head of investment at Salix Homes, said: “Emanuel Whittaker is a main partner in our investment programme and has already played a significant role in the first phase of our modernisation plans for our housing stock. Having them based closer to the areas where we work will help us to deliver value for money.

“We are particularly excited about the new training facilities, which will allow us and other Salford-based partners more opportunities to work with young people and apprentices.”

As well as the training centre, the Salford office will provide meeting space for local teams and a huge warehouse which will take deliveries of stock to allow for more cost and resource savings.

Other partners who will benefit from the new office facilities will include Salford based housing providers Contour Homes and City West Housing Trust as well as Trafford based regeneration consortium Procure Plus.

Mark Wilson, regeneration manager at Procure Plus, stated: “It’s great to see our framework partners offering employment support in the local communities we operate in. As a regeneration consortium, it is vital that we continue to assist the creation of training opportunities within our local areas to sustain long term employment and revitilise the community.”

Emanuel Whittaker Director John Gallagher adds: “This is a new and exciting phase in the growth of our business and continues our commitment to enhancing social value contribution in the areas where we work. We currently recruiting three full time staff and we anticipate more vacancies will be available in the future.”