GRAHAM has enhanced Edinburgh’s skyline with some festivity as the contractor progresses with the transformation of the historic Grade-A listed Jenners building on Princes Street.
Draped in colourful lights, the crane has become a striking feature of the city’s celebrations, towering over the city’s magical Christmas Market in the Princes Street Gardens.
For more information about the ongoing transformation of the Jenners Building, please visit:
GRAHAM appointed to reinstate one of the world’s oldest department stores
Leading construction firm GRAHAM has begun construction work on the historic Jenners building on Princes Street, to transform the location into a contemporary mixed-use space.
The development encompasses 17,500 square metres across ten floors. The plans include the restoration of Jenners and will feature its iconic atrium. The upper floors will house a new 90-room boutique hotel, along with vibrant café, bars and restaurant spaces that will complement the Jenners building’s future offerings. GRAHAM has been appointed to carry out the shell and core works.
The plans for this Category A-listed structure, led by David Chipperfield Architects, focus on a sensitive restoration that will revive many original features lost over time. The Jenners building first opened in 1895 and was expanded in 1903, with further additions in the 1950s and 60s. It closed its doors in December 2020.
Gary Holmes, regional managing director at GRAHAM Building North, said: “Edinburgh is a globally renowned city with a thriving hotel and leisure sector that draws visitors from around the world.
“It is exciting to see such an ambitious development taking shape, marking a new chapter for one of Edinburgh’s most iconic buildings.
“GRAHAM is proud to contribute to this historic transformation. Our team’s expertise will ensure a sensitive restoration as we work to bring the new vision for this landmark to life.
“We thank the owners of Jenners for believing in us and providing us with this great opportunity”.
GRAHAM has started construction on a new £59m low-carbon development in Edinburgh which combines student flats, build-to-rent and affordable homes.
The Burnet Point scheme in Abbey Lane is the first-ever mixed-use residential development of its kind by Unite Students, one of the UK’s largest student accommodation providers.
The pioneering development will use low-carbon concrete and timber composite, an environmentally friendly alternative to natural wood. Carbon lifecycle assessments show Burnet Point will be Unite Students’ lowest-carbon new-build project.
As well as 298 student bedrooms across cluster and studio flats, with communal spaces and accessible landscaped roof areas, Burnet Point will also provide 66 one-, two- and three-bedroom flats for rent, including 17 affordable units managed by Hillcrest Homes.
Tom Brewerton, Group Development Director at Unite Students, said:“This is the company’s first combined development of purpose-built student accommodation, build-to-rent and affordable housing.
“We look forward to contributing positively to the student and private rental market in Edinburgh to help address the supply-demand imbalance in the city. This development reflects Unite Students’ ongoing commitment to provide high-standard, affordable student accommodation in locations where demand is greatest.
“We are excited to build our lowest carbon new-build property to date in our portfolio. The development will also contribute to the regeneration of the local area, which has seen significant investment in recent years.
“We are working closely with the community and later this year will offer a dedicated space for use by a local charity which is aligned with our purpose of creating a Home for Success.”’
David Milton, Hillcrest Head of Development, added:“This is an exciting project, and a fantastic example of true tenure blind community of a variety of housing and tenure types.
“These low-carbon homes will also contribute greatly towards achieving lower emissions and energy bills for tenants.”
Gary Holmes, Regional Managing Director at GRAHAM Building North, said:“Burnet Point is a unique project which prioritises sustainable construction.
“The demand for student accommodation continues to grow and the build-to-rent market remains buoyant, giving us a strong pipeline of projects in the coming years.”
GRAHAM has extensive experience of major build-to-rent and student accommodation schemes including Solasta Riverside in Glasgow and is currently on site at Bonnington Road in Edinburgh.
Burnet Point is scheduled to be completed in September next year, ready for the 2025/26 academic term.
Leading contractor, GRAHAM (formerly GRAHAM Construction), has pledged to support Scottish youngsters to establish a career in construction by joining the Young Person’s Guarantee (YPG) – a joint commitment to bring together employers, partners and young people across the country.
The £60 million Scottish Government led initiative aims to provide opportunities for all 16-24 year olds in Scotland through jobs, apprenticeships, further and higher education, training programmes and volunteering.
In addition to the existing apprenticeship and training opportunities at GRAHAM, including its dedicated GRAHAM Academy Scotland, the firm has joined the YPG to underline its commitment to supporting youngsters whilst future-proofing skills needed in the construction industry.
GRAHAM will now work alongside Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian; DYW Glasgow; DYW Fife; DYW North East and Action for Children to establish valuable partnerships which will see young people obtain both practical experience and academic accreditation with the team’s support.
Already through its partnership with Action for Children, GRAHAM has employed four youngsters in various positions across its live Glasgow build to rent (BTR) schemes, which are creating an abundance of community benefits and helping to address the demand for high-quality homes in the city.
Three young people are currently employed on Edinburgh projects and a further two apprentices will be joining the firm in August. Two Action for Children work trials have started at GRAHAM sites in Edinburgh and both have now secured full time roles, where they will be working across student accommodation and BTR schemes.
Suzanne Stevenson, social impact advisor at GRAHAM, said: “There are a number of young people across Scotland who face a variety of obstacles which prevent them finding a route into construction and a fulfilling career.
“At GRAHAM, we are proud to offer year-round apprenticeship and graduate programmes where over the last five years we have created more than 300 opportunities – many of which have extended into full-time employment.
“However, we are always looking at ways to enhance how we support our future generations and by pledging to support the YPG, we will now have national support to develop a workforce that has young people at its heart and help create a resilient industry for decades to come.”
GRAHAM is also a member of The 5% Club – an organisation consisting of companies committed to ensuring that at least 5% of their workforce over the next five years is comprised of young people on structured learning schemes.
Already across Scotland, 13% of GRAHAM’s workforce is made up of young people and its Building North region hosts a quarterly Young Persons Forum where younger colleagues come together to share ideas and network.
GRAHAMhas welcomed the “next generation of talent” from its Graduate Apprenticeship Programme, which gives company employees the opportunity to gain higher education via the workplace.
Under the programme, delivered as part of the GRAHAM Academy Scotland, four employees have completed their studies at Heriot Watt University – the top university in Scotland for construction and civil engineering*.
The graduates are Thomas McGoran from Cardonald, Karen Jeffrey from Bishopbriggs, Jos Mackie from Lenzie and Shams Rahimi from Maryhill – all have completed degrees in Construction Built Environment and Civil Engineering.
Hosted and funded by Skills Development Scotland, the programme provides a new route into degree level education for those currently employed, or those who want to go straight into the workplace.
The courses have been designed around the needs of the construction industry to ensure employees are learning skills that contribute to business needs.
The new graduates will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from their degree courses on some of GRAHAM’s most high-profile projects, such as Central Quay and Buchanan Wharf, Glasgow.
Karen Jeffrey (25), who has been working on site at Buchanan Wharf, said: “I’ve always had an interest in construction, particularly buildings and how they are constructed and maintained. When I left school, I originally pursued a degree in building surveying, but I desperately wanted to develop my practical experience.
“I applied for an apprenticeship with GRAHAM and started their programme to gain a technical apprenticeship at HNC level. From there, GRAHAM has been fantastic at continuing to develop my skillset and further my potential by putting me forward for the Graduate Apprenticeship.
“When the pandemic struck, our mentors at Heriot Watt University and the team at GRAHAM were supportive throughout and ensured we all stayed on track, achieved our outcomes and produced the appropriate evidence.
“The course has provided me with a great blend of theory andon-the-job experience on the Buchanan Wharf projects – expertise which I’m excited to take forward into the next chapter of my career.”
Debbie Rutherford, Social Impact Manager at GRAHAM, believes nurturing talent has been key to GRAHAM’s strong growth, saying: “We are thrilled to welcome the next generation of talent and to equip them with the tools to grow and become future leaders at GRAHAM.
“Despite the disruption caused by the pandemic, our graduates have overcome the enormous challenges presented to them over the past year. Coupled with support from the university, we are exceptionally proud of our graduates and look forward to seeing them further their professional careers and futures with GRAHAM.
“As one of the first companies in the UK to be accredited Platinum status by Investors in People, we believe that nurturing and investing in the next generation of talent is crucial for the long-term success and sustainability of GRAHAM.”
Graeme Bowles, Programme Director for Heriot-Watt’s Construction and the Built Environment Graduate Apprenticeship programme, said: “I’m delighted to have reached this important milestone with the graduation of our first cohort of apprentices with GRAHAM.
“They leave us with an accredited Honours degree and continue their career development with the knowledge and skills that the apprenticeship has developed. I’ve enjoyed working with our apprentices and overseeing their growth and development as construction professionals. They will be very valued by their employers and I’m sure they’ll make a huge contribution.”
The Graduate Programme is part of the GRAHAM Academy, which is an in-house training and development initiative which offers a range of graduate programmes, industrial and undergraduate placements, part-time university study, apprenticeships, work experience, and trainee opportunities.
Since 2015, the GRAHAM Academy has seen more than 215 graduates successfully through its programme, with 11 new technical apprentices joining GRAHAM in the last year.
A member of the “5% Club”, a group of companies committed to ensuring 5% of their workforce over the next five years is comprised of young people on structured learning schemes, GRAHAM is already ahead of the curve, with 13% of its workforce fitting the criteria.
GRAHAM is also a member of the Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Programme, an industry-wide initiative that aims to make workplaces better for everyone.
Young women from across Central Scotland participating in the ‘Women into Construction’ programme have completed a three-day course to build a wind turbine, facilitated by leading contractor GRAHAM.
‘Women into Construction’ has been devised by Action for Children to encourage more females into the construction industry, where women currently only account for 14% of the workforce.
GRAHAM is a lead partner of the initiative and arranged for the group of young women to take part in the wind turbine project with ConStructEd Scotland at Sibbald’s training facility at Blackridge, to further develop their learning and gain practical, real life construction experience.
The hands-on course has seen the group manage all aspects of the wind turbine construction project from the ground up. Working outdoors in the elements, the team have built formwork, tested and poured concrete before erecting the turbine mast and assembling the electrics to generate power.
Each stage of construction has involved learning and using a variety of materials, tools and skills which can be put to good use in the working world when the programme ends.
Across the duration of the seven-week training programme, the young women from Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian will learn about various sectors of the construction industry; each aspiring to secure an apprenticeship in their chosen field after they graduate from the course in May.
Suzanne Stevenson, Social Impact Advisor for GRAHAM said:“There is a significant gender imbalance in the construction sector, so initiatives like ‘Women into Construction’ provide a strong platform to show just how rewarding and varied a career in construction can be.
“As a company, GRAHAM looks to provide as many opportunities as possible to the younger generation, including apprenticeship schemes and funding further education. It’s been a pleasure to watch the young women progress throughout the course and we look forward to supporting them in their futures where possible.”
Charlie Douglas, 16, from Bonnyrigg, a participant on the ‘Women into Construction’ programme said:“The ‘Women into Construction’ programme has been a brilliant experience and opportunity for me.
“I grew up watching my dad and brother work in construction and I’ve loved being able to train in the same field, as part of an all-female group. The course has made me feel far more comfortable and confident as everyone is in the same position, learning the basics together.
“The wind turbine project was a great way to get some hands-on experience and now I’d really like to take this further and explore a career in the construction industry.”
GRAHAM is a member of the “5% Club”, an organisation consisting of companies committed to ensuring 5% of their workforce over the next five years is comprised of young people on structured learning schemes.
Those interested in applying for an apprenticeship with GRAHAM in Scotland are encouraged to send a CV and covering letter to: Glasgow.GrahamAcademy@graham.co.u
