Partnership to push for growth

Capita Symonds, along with three local authorities in Wales, has proposed a 15-year partnership which will replace Glamorgan Engineering Consulting (GEC) as the designer and manager of civil engineering projects in the region.

The venture is valued at around £75m and includes BridgendCounty, MerthyrCounty and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Councils. It will include the transfer of 76 staff from GEC and new offices in the Taffs Well or Treforest area.

Partnering with the private sector will allow the venture to focus on community investment, local job creation and ambitious growth plans. The aim is to create over 100 new jobs during the next five years, while also providing training and development.

For the last five years Capita Symonds has followed a similar process with four authorities in south east Wales. It is hoped that the two ventures will create a sustainable platform for long-term sustainable growth, the development and implementation of regeneration, and investment funding.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council head of engineering Edward Foley said: ‘The creation of a major new private or public venture in conjunction with Capita Symonds presents a unique opportunity to expand the resource base and critical mass of the partnership.’

He added: ‘This will be accompanied by the advantage of competitive rates and local community benefits including the retention of highly skilled local employment opportunities along with training potential for much needed future engineers and support staff.’