Even in its early stages the project has recieved a lot of media attention and has recently been rated as the 'best unbuilt community building' at the Manchester Society Design Awards.

During site inspections earlier this year it was also found that the original school buildings still existed.  The earliest buildings on site date from 1817, making them possibly the oldest extant buildings in Blackpool Town Centre.

The new Primary School will have the capacity to teach over 200 pupils and is due to be open in June 2009.

The Blackpool Illumathon is a half marathon walk through Blackpool's World Famous Illuminations and back.  The Translake Challenge is a 37 mile journey through the heart of the Lake District and 'Team Parkinson' won the race with an impressive finishing time of 4 hours and 10 minutes a whopping 18 minutes ahead of second place.  This event alone helped raise over £1600 for the British Heart Foundation thanks to the sponsorship of the 17 companies involved.

Parkinson's have also took part in many other events raising money; the Moonlight Walk for St Catherine's Hospice, our Construction Director Andy Smith took part in a 5km run around Preston Docks and Accounts Assistant Emma Brown took part in the Race for Life for Cancer Research UK.

In achieving this award we had to have good proven safety policies, plans and commitment to health and safety at the highest level and also endeavour to improve the safety culture throughout the company. We detailed our Health and Safety Manager’s qualifications, Dave Shaw who is employed full time in his role, and provide information about significant advances that we had made over the preceding 12 months.

This is the 2^nd time the company has won this award.

The award will be presented to the company at the award banquet to be held at the Grosvenor House,

Present at the opening ceremony was Blackpool Mayor, Robert Wynne and Olympic Heptathlon Champion, Denise Lewis OBE who officially opened the school.

Denise took questions from the school's pupils before showing them her gold medal.

She spoke to them of her ambitions at an early age and told them to follow their goals, to fulfill their dreams. She was then shown around the school.

]]> The Board was pleased to announce in December that Steve Williamson - Senior Quantity Surveyor - Bury Office, had accepted the position of Regional Manager responsible for the continuing growth and success of the Bury office within it's operational area. This is in recognition of Steve's commitment and hardwork to ensure Bury's success.

Currently the Manchester team are on several sites with a total value in excess of £2m along with an additional 2 non framework sites worth £1.2m

The values of each range from £300k to £600k with all scheduled for completion by spring 2008

St Nicholas PS £3.4 million

Christies Hospital £1.2 million

St Catherines Hospice £816k

Queen Victoria Hospital,  Dental Education Centre £596k

Preston Business Centre £943k

]]> The Parkinson team came in 1st with a winning time of 4hrs 29min 11 seconds some 19 mins ahead of 2nd place!

The 6 man Parkinson Team was made up of both site and office staff and with the aid of sposorship from the company's sub contractors and supply chain the team raised in excess of £2,200.

The challenge was to run and pedal from Keswick down to Holker Hall up and over the heavy Lake District terrain.

Not bad for a days work. All monies raised goes to The British Heart Foundation

Mortuary Suite & Forensic Unit at Royal Oldham Hospital, project value £1.9m

Charnley Fold at Preston, project value £1.1m

Royal Lancaster Hospital, project value £340k

West Strand at Preston, project value £940k

All of these are for NHS clients.

And as part of our ongoing Partnering agreement with Blackpool Council we are pleased to be undertaking the following works;

The Beeches, Blackpool, project value £750k

Blackpool Cenotaph, project value £81k.

]]> The company's Bury office is being kept busy with the Manchester City Framework which is going from strength to strength.

Currently we are on 8 sites with works ranging from £100k to £500k total value in excess of £3 million.

Although we are not in a framework agreement our York office has just completed six Children Centres for North Yorkshire County Council. Total value in excess of £3 million with all projects partnered. More on these contracts can be found in Partnered Projects.

Acton Pastures Children Centre; Byers Green Primary School; Ripon College; New Earswick Primary School; Ripon Grammar; Aireville School.

Total projects value £5.2 million 

Lancaster University; St Osmunds & Andrews Roman Catholic Primary School; Mortuary Suite and Forensic Unit Royal Oldham Hospital.

Total value £6.1 million

We now have excellent relationships with a number of key clients with whom we are the preferred contractor in agreements throughout our operational area.

Being included on approved lists can secure us work for a number of years. This security allows controlled planning and strategy ensuring financial stability and resorces being available to support the future needs of our clients.

Frameworks fare included in the company's five year business plan. The company is extremely strong with regards to frameworks and partnered  contracts which total 60% of annnnual turnover.

We look forward to working with the University with whom we have a long working relationship with cemented by this latest framework.  

Leeming RAF Community Primary School, St Michaels Primary School, Smawthorne Primary School and Simpsons Lane Primary School.

Unique Enterprise Centre Rochdale, All Hallows High School, Redeemer Primary School, Ceurdon Church School, Queens Park Hospital, Burnley Brow School, Grade 1 Passenger Facility and Blackpool Enterprise Centre.

This award is for excellance in the business category and we have been awarded the best Lancashire Business of the Year.  

Devonshire Road School, Hindley High School, Lancaster & Morecambe College, Lostock Hall Community High School, Sure Start Nursery Hindley, Golbourne Community Primary School, Anchorsholme Junior School.

Described by the judges as 'a company doing alot of good things', the award was won by us having undergone a significant change in growth, natue and size of contracts.  Turnover risen by 50% to £26 million in the past five years, over half of which has been developed through a commitment to partnering and the development of framework agreements.

This approach has earned us a reputation for high quality work and reliability throughout the North of England.  Significant contracts have been secured with Manchester City Council, Wigan Metropolitian Borough Council, Wakefield Metropolitian Borough Council and Keighley Police Station for West Yorkshire Police.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Peter Glenn, Managing Director praised the efforts of his staff.  He said: "To receive this prestigious award is a culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication from what is a relatively small gteam of professionals.  It recognises our commitment to the partnering approach that has paid off not only in terms of awards and increased turnover, but in the calibre of clients that the firm can now attract.

"It sends a strong message to both the public and private sector both locally and across the North of England that Parkinosn is a firm to consider for projects from £300k up to £10 million.  It also demonstrates to other SME Contractors what can be acheived through a demonstrable commitment to best practice."

The judges stated that, "this category saw some of the toughest competition in this year's awards", "an excellent presentation from a company doing lots of good things".

The company was up against some very strong competition, with both local and national organisations applying for the contract.

The works involve the demolition of the old Devonshire Road School, which was a listed building and the target of an arson attack.  The school will be constructed on the original site with anticipated completion scheduled for the last quarter of 2006.

]]> Cllr Ivan Talyor, responsible for the Devonshire Road Primary School predicted at the "Sod Cutting Ceremony", which was attended by local dignitaries, teachers and pupils of the old school, "This is going to be special, we don't want to build a conventional school that wouldn't grip the imagination of the Blackpool people".  Features of the new school will include: Beehive Design, allowing for classrooms and a play area on the same level, as well as a flexible social area and multi use sports area for pupils.  Project due for completion, September 2006.

• 50% growth in partnering contracts - partnering now represents over 56% of our annual turnover
• In close competition with major, national building contractors we were awarded the contract to build one of the first ever "Exemplar" schools in the UK
• We achieved a place on Blackpool Borough Council's three year partnering framework
• Awarded the British Safety Councils "International Safety Award", for 80,000 man hours worked - without any reportable incidents or accidents at one of our most major contracts to date
• Introduced new logo and corporate identity
• Re-Launch of new "York" office
• Launch of new Parkinson web site
• Publication of the new Parkinson brochure

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]]> Parkinson have been up against some strong rivalry when competing for a place on this three year partnered framework.  We are pleased to report that we have now been short listed for stage two.

]]> "Sponsoring the Grand Theatre, has given us the ideal opportunity to say thank you to the community for its continued support which, we have enjoyed over the years.

As a contractor who's prime activity is within the education sector, we felt that the Pantomime season was an ideal opportunity to cement relationships with the children in Blackpool, who after all may take apprenticeships with us in years to come!"

Peter Glenn, Managing Director, PARKINSON Building Contractors

The parent’s and children are delighted to have been invited to see the Pantomime at the Grand Theatre as guests of PARKINSON, it has been like an additional, early Christmas Present, thank you”

Head Teacher, St Nicholas School

The event was covered by the local press and radio stations and lasted over an hour. A fun day was had by all!

The brief was to safely design and build “something useful to a primary or secondary school, either inside or out”.   The “Team” built a stage, which they thought would be useful, in particular to primary school children, in order to develop their young sense of imagination. 

The task was successfully completed within the two hours as specified by the organisers, a safety ramp and catwalk was also incorporated into the structure, (additions that were requested by the judging panel).

A team of 13/14-year-old pupils, from local schools, judged the competition along with Tony Robinson of “Time Team” and alias “Baldrick” from the “Black Adder Days”.

 A buffet luncheon was provided and guests were treated to a guided tour of the museum and were entertained by one of the UK’s top, close work magicians.

We had a great turnout out and were supported by many of our customers and suppliers, who are looking forward to working with us in the future.
As one of our customers said, “The event was “magic” and enjoyed by all the party!”