At Slough Urban Renewal (SUR), it’s our aim to maximise local economic and community benefits by leveraging our programme of development activity. Our most recent mixed-use development in the Heart of Slough includes 2 Marriott Hotels, 64 apartments and retail on the ground floor. Besides a striking building we’ve provided a range of positive community benefits. Here’s the top 10!
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A focus on local subcontractors – we’re committed to using the local supply chain wherever possible. Three of our subcontractors were based in Slough, while a further 13 were located within 25 miles of the site.
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Delivering over 9,000 hours of on the job training – during the construction stage we were able to provide 11 long-term apprenticeships and a further 16 short-term apprenticeship opportunities through our contractors, delivering 9,670 hours of on the job training.
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Offering a series of work experience placements – we were able to provide 14 separate work experience placements including longer-term summer undergraduate placements to opportunities for local BTEC Level 3 students from Langley College.
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Careers advice and guidance to over 1,800 students – through a range of proactive, information, advice and guidance activities, we reached out to 1,800 local students. Events included a Women in Industry speed networking event at Baylis Court School to hosting our own Site Safety Day for Langley College. We also participated in a virtual careers initiative, led by Learning to Work - which has just secured a highly coveted Queens’s Award for Voluntary Service.
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Keeping the pound local – local bakery Priestly Bakers, were appointed as the onsite caterers. The family run firm, based on the Slough Trading Estate, provided the construction site with a personal catering touch for breakfast, lunches and business meetings.
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Local jobs for local people – advertising locally we were able to appoint all 22 labourers’ jobs with Slough residents.
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Using our skills to help the neighbours – our construction team carried out a series of refurbishment works for Look Ahead, a charitable housing association, which supports thousands of people across London and the South East. We were also able to offer a work trial for a resident from the Look Out, which resulted in his full-time employment as a labourer.
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Home Slough – we stepped in to support a new initiative to bring art to Slough’s streets. Our hoarding was home for a creative 50ft mural created by artist Daryl Bennet in collaboration with young people in Slough.
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Over 1,000 volunteer hours delivered - collectively we have invested 1,294 volunteering hours throughout the lifetime of this project. We have supported many local, charitable fundraisers from participating in a local food bank appeal to donating sleeping bags to Slough’s homeless.
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New jobs in the Marriott hotels – Cycas, the hotel operator for the new Moxy and Residence Inn has demonstrated its commitment to local employment. Its positive recruitment drive within the town has already resulted in over 80% of Cycas hotel staff coming from Slough itself – with more job opportunities available.
