High esteem for job creation

Vision of the future: St. James primary pupils view a model of the soon-to-be-built Archishop Sentamu Academy, and (below) an artist's impression of the school

The company chosen to re-build schools across Hull has pledged to create hundreds of new jobs.
The company – Esteem – was unveiled last month as the preferred bidder to rebuild or remodel each of the city's secondary and special schools under the £400 million Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project.
And the company has guaranteed more than 200 apprenticeships, including in joinery and bricklaying, with that figure expected to rise to 500 as the project progresses.
There will also be jobs for unemployed skilled workers.
"Esteem has shown a deep understanding of, and personal motivation to, Hull's ambitious plans to ensure that the physical renewal of schools drives social and economic regeneration," says David Martin, BSF project director.
"We have every confidence in their very clear capabilities and commitment."
The BSF project is the city's biggest-ever transformation of secondary schools in the city, and will revolutionise teaching and learning with the aim of driving up results.
"Now the hard work really begins," says Esteem project director Paul Brooke.
"The day that the first spade hits the ground is drawing ever closer and we will not rest until each and every facility is built by a local workforce who will all contribute towards improving education right across the city of Hull."
Building work on Winifred Holtby and Archbishop Sentamu schools will begin in the new year, with all schools expected to be completed by 2014.
Esteem is a consortium made up of Morgan Sindall Investments Ltd, Robertson's Capital Projects Ltd and The Sewell Group plc.