Leading construction, development and property services business Wates Construction is taking part in this year’s Open Doors Week by opening up nine of its sites to the public in the hope of encouraging attendees to take up a career in construction.

On 19th March, Wates offered an all access pass to the Quadram Institute in Norwich. The site visit included a tour of the Quadram Institute as well as educational talks from members of the project team.

The Quadram Institute project currently sees Wates undertaking the construction of a five-storey development on the Norwich Research Park, which will comprise of a variety of specialist laboratories, offices and patient facilities. Photovoltaic panels as well as ground source heat pumps have been incorporated into the building design to enhance energy efficiency.

The scheme will bring together research teams from Quadram Institute Bioscience (formerly the Institute of Food Research), the University of East Anglia as well as the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s gastrointestinal endoscopy facility.

Ian Vickers, Managing Director, Wates Construction Home Counties said:

“Open Doors Week is a fantastic initiative that Wates is delighted to be a part of. It is our responsibility as industry leaders to ensure that the industry continues to thrive by encouraging the next generation towards working in construction. Events such as Open Doors offer the perfect opportunity to inspire, as well as educate, young people on what a career in construction is really like. And there is no better way of that than touring a live site.

“We look forward to opening up the Quadram Institute and meeting the attendees, as well as finding out what they think of the build so far. It is going to be an amazing week and we are ready to continue to promote the many fantastic opportunities the sector offers.”

“The Quadram Institute is a unique combination of scientific research and excellent patient care facilities in one purpose-built building. We’re delighted that Wates Construction are giving people interested in careers in construction the chance to see how our new building will bring those elements together to spark new discoveries and help improve health” said Andrew Chapple, Communications Manager at the Quadram Institute.

Open Doors Week runs from 19th to 24th March 2018, with over 200 construction sites opening up across England, Scotland and Wales. To find out more visit: http://opendoors.construction/.