A NEW special needs school which will serve the Dwyfor and Meirionnydd areas is also benefiting the local economy.

With the multi-million-pound Ysgol Hafod Lon Newydd project in Penrhyndeudraeth nearing completion, a number of local sub-contractors and tradespeople are benefitting from work on the site to construct the special school.

As part of Gwynedd’s Sustainable Procurement Policy for major projects, the council has identified ways in which the new school project could deliver benefits over and above the building itself.

This included working with main contractors Wynn Construction to encourage Gwynedd companies to become sub-contractors on the project as well as ensuring the construction provided training opportunities for local tradespeople.

Cllr Mandy Williams-Davies, Gwynedd Council Cabinet member for the economy, who has responsibility for procurement matters, said: “As part of the council’s Keeping the Benefit Local scheme, we are committed to doing as much as we can to ensure that local companies and sub-contractors can make the most from high-level public service contracts like the £11 million project to develop the new Ysgol Hafod Lon.

“Whilst it is important we remember that procurement regulations prohibit councils from insisting that local firms receive contracts, as part of Gwynedd Council’s procurement procedures, we make every effort to include social clauses that make it easier for the county’s companies to benefit from major contracts like this one in Penrhyndeudraeth.

“It’s fantastic to see that a number of Gwynedd businesses have secured work as part of this major investment which has provided fantastic work experience for students and apprentices."

See the full story in this Thursday’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News