By Lesley Aitken, MRP Community Benefits Engagement Lead (Pictured above)

I hope you have been able to enjoy the recent spell of good weather. I, for one, am thankful for the lighter nights and the lifting of the winter darkness. It does, however, seem like January lasted a long time and then we are all of a sudden, at Easter.

MRP Immersive Suite at University Hospital Monklands

Project update

The MRP team has been incredibly busy over these last few months, finalising the spatial and technical elements of the design ahead of submitting the Full Business Case to Scottish Government at the end of the year. We are continuing to engage with project stakeholders, and our Digital team have been meeting carers and disability groups to understand their specific needs in relation to the digital hospital. There is a lot to achieve by the end of the year but I wanted to highlight a couple of key moments since I last updated you.

The MRP Immersive Suite was officially opened by Neil Gray MSP on 28 March. This facility, located at University Hospital Monklands, represents the most up-to-date approach in major construction projects for engagement with the public and staff. The suite uses the latest technology to bring the plans for the new hospital to life, allowing colleagues early familiarisation with all its areas.

Another big milestone was achieved in April with preparatory earthworks (enabling works) starting on the site for the new hospital. A huge amount of earth will be moved and levelled to allow a platform to be created for the hospital and campus.

Community Benefits delivery

Our contractual Community Benefits Programme continues to be delivered by Laing O’Rourke during the Pre-Construction Services Agreement and the enabling works contracts. Their work over the last few months has continued to focus on engagement with the supply chain and with the future workforce.

A further Meet the Buyer event was hosted in Hamilton in March, with a number of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in attendance. Two capacity building workshops have taken place to give potential suppliers and business the opportunity to better understand the requirements of the procurement process. The knowledge gained is not only beneficial for participants for working with the MRP but improves readiness in relation to other contracts. These workshops have had a sustainability theme.

In engaging with the future workforce, schools, colleges and universities have been visited. Information about accessing the variety of careers in construction has been provided to our young people in schools, inspiring and motivating towards a positive destination. Work experience placements have also been provided to students from New College Lanarkshire who spent a week with the Laing O’Rourke Digital Engineering Team. Students at Strathclyde University were given real-life industry experience, bridging the gap between their academic studies and industry challenges and expectations. This engagement helps support the students towards a career in the construction industry.

The programme for the first cohort of students, being supported by Laing O’Rourke through the business element of a Civil Engineering Foundation Apprenticeship, inpartnership with North Lanarkshire Council Vocational Education and training provider Tigers, is well underway. It is equipping these young people with the skills to start employment in the construction industry. Laing O’Rourke have also now begun the recruitment process for some graduate positions and Graduate Apprenticeship roles to start in Autumn 2025.