North Region News
Bowland is beautiful
Our flagship improvement work on Bowland House close to Blackburn town centre is completed!
The £3.4 million renovation of the 14-storey high-rise that has dominated the skyline since the mid- 1960s project looks to breathe new life into the iconic local building as well as updating customers’ homes and making them more energy efficient.
The year-long project, in partnership with Casey’s, has also seen the addition of new fire safety improvements including new windows and flat entrance doors, sprinkler systems to all flats and communal areas and the installation of an innovative evacuation system.
Other improvements include a new hot water cylinder, electric showers, communal lighting, and the refurbishment of the communal areas. The project also has involved the installation of 5G broadband as part of a pilot project that will provide customers free Wi-Fi services.
Alongside the improvement works, the project team has also enlisted the help of Blackburn College students and customers to add some artistic flair by creating murals for each floor depicting landmarks and images associated with the town.
Plans are also a foot to hold a celebratory event to mark the end of this flagship project and showcase the improvements made to local dignitaries, which we’ll look to feature in an upcoming edition of My Great Place.
Following improvements works at Bowland House, a customer wrote to thank our contractor and other Great Places colleagues.
The customer said: “I’ve been a Great Places tenant for over 22 years and I have genuinely given ‘very satisfied’ to my answers because all of the companies Great Places have employed to do interior works etc. I can genuinely say Casey’s Ltd has been the best and very professional and respectful to myself and my home.
“All the bosses were lovely and courteous. Any problems or concerns I had were sorted out straight away. The work men were all very pleasant and respectful and tidied up after themselves.”
Safety in mind in Preesall
Children from Preesall have come together to help make their neighbourhood a safer place.
Great Places’ Neighbourhoods team and Community and Partnerships Manager Aateeka Bashir for Lancashire worked with residents in the Over-Wyre town to create road safety banners.
Working with local artist Sarah Marsh, she helped the children – and mums - create the banners.
Everyone received a goodie bag for their hard work when they we re launched.
Blackburn College apprentices get work experience on our Lancashire improvement works
As an organisation, we stay true to our social purpose, working and supporting the people and communities we work in. That includes nurturing talent.
Our Investment Team recently teamed up with Blackburn College students to give 15 young apprentices on its construction course the chance of valuable work experience needed to complete their college based apprenticeship.
Working in contractors John Southworth, the young people supported with kitchen and bathroom upgrade works taking place in the local area, getting the vital experience needed for getting that all important first job.
The feedback from the College was extremely positive. Nadine Ray, the College’s Workplace Coordinator, explained: “John Southworth were absolutely great, offering 15 of our full time construction students an opportunity for some work experience on site.
“This gave our students an opportunity to work on a real building site and increase their knowledge and skills in a real work environment. I worked closely with the team and we had a timetable of weeks that the students attended and running from October to March.”
I worked closely with the team and we had a timetable of weeks that the students attended and running from October to March.”
Kathy Howard, the Investment Team’s Customer Liaison Officer added: “The project gave the apprentices the chance to gain valuable experience in the work place needed to complete their apprenticeship training.
“This was a great project to be involved with and highlighted Great Places’ on going commitment to investing in the skills of our future workforce.”