New board set up by Halton Council to deliver Mersey Gateway as recruitment for senior posts is announced for ‘project of a lifetime’
Halton’s Mersey Gateway Executive Board has agreed to set up a new body – the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Ltd – to deliver the high-profile Mersey Gateway Project. This is required as a condition of the Government funding arrangements.
The Board is now recruiting for senior staff, including a Construction Director, to help it oversee the project.
The new Board will deliver the project on behalf of Halton Council as the project enters the construction phase.
The Board’s operational role will begin when the Council reaches Financial Close with the preferred bidder – the Merseylink consortium – which will be responsible for designing, building, financing and operating the project. This is expected to take place early in 2014.
Existing Mersey Gateway Project Director Steve Nicholson, who has overseen the development of the project over the past six years, will work closely with the Board, as will David Parr, the Council’s Chief Executive.
The Crossings Board has today (Monday 18 November) started advertising for five senior new positions as part of the expected 30-strong team, which will also retain a number of key staff from the development phase to ensure continuity.
The Crossings Board is recruiting for:
- Construction Director (Fixed Term)
- Contracts Manager
- Technical Manager (Fixed Term)
- Performance Manager
- Review Manager (Fixed Term)
Full details of the posts are available at https://merseygateway.co.uk/work-for-us/.
The Mersey Gateway Crossings Board will be a special purpose vehicle established by Halton Borough Council with the delegated authority to deliver the Mersey Gateway Bridge Project and to administer and oversee the construction and maintenance of the new tolled crossings, including the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge.
Once operating, the Board will oversee a concession business with annual turnover of circa £70m, and will operate as a commercial (though not for profit) organisation on an arm’s length basis from the Council.
Cllr Rob Polhill, Leader of Halton Borough Council, said: “I am pleased that Steve Nicholson will be staying with the project and working with the Council’s Chief Executive David Parr. Both have played a key role in leading the project through negotiations with Government and in delivering the procurement process, which is on track to save tens of millions of pounds on the projected cost of Mersey Gateway.”
Steve Nicholson said: “The people who join the Board as part of this recruitment drive will be key players in ensuring we deliver this high-profile infrastructure project.
Mersey Gateway will be a major catalyst for growth in the north west economy, and this year was listed as one of the top 100 infrastructure projects in the world, so we’re expecting high levels of interest and looking forward to meeting some exceptional candidates.”