Network Rail Chief visits new National Centre in Milton Keynes

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Network Rail chief executive David Higgins joined civic leaders in Milton Keynes this week for a topping out ceremony at the company’s new National Centre, which will be home to around 3,000 people when it opens in 2012, bringing new jobs to the city.

The milestone means work on the main structure of the 400,000 sq ft, four-storey building is now complete, only nine months after construction started. The building – two separate wings to be connected by a glass-roofed central ‘street’ – will be weatherproof by the summer, when work will start on the internal fit-out.

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March 2011 - the main structures are largely complete, ready for cladding and glazing to begin.

David Higgins said:

“This is my first visit to Milton Keynes since joining Network Rail a few months ago, and I have to say I’m very impressed and excited by what I’ve seen today. I’m confident the new National Centre will be a place which inspires our people and I know it will be a fabulous place to work.

“Bringing so many of our people together in Milton Keynes makes sense, not just in terms of efficiency savings but also because of the improved service we will be able to offer train operators and their passengers. The National Centre is at the heart of our plans to improve the way we work so we can continue to deliver a world-class railway.”

Debbie Brock, Mayor of Milton Keynes, said:

“Today is an important step for Network Rail and yet another example of Milton Keynes delivering the right mix of skills, location and ‘can do’ attitude to attract business and create jobs. The National Centre is becoming a familiar part of the landscape, and its green credentials are a perfect fit for our aspirations as a showcase low-carbon city.”

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Artist's impression of the National Centre at Milton Keynes.

Tim Roxburgh of the Homes and Communities Agency said:

“We are pleased to see this cutting edge, sustainable development progress. The decision by Network Rail to choose Milton Keynes, bringing with it 3,000 jobs to the area, is a major success for the city that will enhance its economic growth and prosperity.”

Chris Edwards, Construction Manager for BAM, said:

“BAM’s construction of the National Centre has is in itself created over a thousand new jobs, predominantly local, as well as millions of pounds of local investment..”

The National Centre is expected to save Network Rail millions of pounds a year as the amount of office space it rents across the country will be greatly reduced. Bringing together national functions in one place will also improve teamwork and planning and support Network Rail’s newly devolved route teams based in places like Manchester, Swindon, Derby, York and London.

Teams will start moving into the National Centre in phases from June 2012, with the moves complete by September 2012. In the meantime, Network Rail’s existing offices at MK Central will continue to grow, with around 900 people based there by the end of this year. More than 230 people have been recruited from the local area since the MK Central office opened in September 2009.

Network Rail is working with the Engineering Development Trust on a mentoring programme in four schools in Milton Keynes. The programme aims to convince more young people to choose engineering-related subjects like maths and science and take them forward for further education. The more young people who stick with these subjects through secondary school and on to college and university, the better the local talent pool will be for Network Rail to recruit from in future.

David Higgins continued:

“One of the most important reasons why we chose Milton Keynes was the availability of a workforce with diverse skills. We’ve been very pleased with the standard of people recruited so far – though certainly not surprised. Network Rail is a fantastic place to work and I look forward to welcoming more new faces from Milton Keynes and the surrounding area in the coming weeks, months and years.”

 

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