Bognor regeneration developers to sign charter to benefit workers

The companies still committed to building a variety of schemes will agree to be involved in a development and partner charter.

This will ensure minimum standards of working such as paying basic wages and ensuring every employee has an NI number '“ as well as

offering them training.

Twelve education providers have also agreed to be involved in the charter which will provide a range of opportunities for people employed on the 500m worth of projects to gain qualifications.

The official launch of the charter will be staged by Arun District Council late next month. But its Bognor regeneration co-ordinator Richard McMann gave a preview of the scheme to Monday's meeting of the Bognor sub-committee of the council.

The intention of the charter was to boost skill and wage levels for the town alongside the benefits it would gain from schemes such as the high

profile redevelopment of the Regis Centre and Hothamton sites in the town centre, the new Butlins hotel and the new Bognor Regis Community College.

Getting the charter adopted by all those involved in redevelopment as well as the education sector was a big achievement.

"The charter is more of a framework for people to sign up to and work together and share opportunities.

"Bognor is one of the few towns in the south-east, and the only one in this area, to get its education and training providers to form an alliance about working together.

"That's a significant move forward because they normally see themselves as competitors because they are competing in some cases for limited

funding," he stated.

As well as working on the building sites, the chances should exist for young people to be placed in the development company's offices in roles such as quantity surveyor and accountant to gain experience of the world of work.

Participants would be expected to boast about their accomplishments as they occurred rather than be subject to regular monitoring and

statistical reports.

Sub-committee chairman Cllr Norman Dingemans said: "This is very good news. It will benefit everyone who is involved in the regeneration."

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