Stronger business links help local firms to win work on Midland Metropolitan University Hospital

4th September 2020

Sandwell Business Ambassadors wish to congratulate several local firms that have won lucrative contracts on the new £267m Midland Metropolitan University Hospital (MMUH).

Sandwell and Birmingham SMEs have already secured multimillion-pound contracts with principal contractor Balfour Beatty, on the flagship hospital development in Smethwick.

The business wins come as a result of efforts by Sandwell Council, Balfour Beatty and Sandwell Business Ambassadors to forge strong business links between local suppliers, procurement teams and support programmes including Sandwell Council’s Business Growth Team.

Successful firms include Oldbury-based Compco Fire Systems, which has won contracts for fire protection, fire safety and engineering works for MMUH. Compco was amongst the first contractors to secure work on the prestigious fit-out project.

Black Country-based mechanical pipework specialists SW Turner and D Wilson in West Bromwich have been awarded various engineering installation packages and architectural fabrication work for the supply of pipework erection, fittings, valves, balustrading and handrails.

Prater Limited in Quinton has won contracts to supply roofline materials and install membranes to the hospital site, alongside OTIS Limited, the passenger lift and escalator manufacturer whose parent company UTC has its UK HQ and production sites across the Black Country, including an HQ in Oldbury.

Other regional suppliers include Birmingham-based scaffolding contractor Lyndon SGB, and family-owned F H Harvey & Sons, a specialist finishing, painting and decorating firm from Warwickshire.

Jon Kiteley, Balfour Beatty Area Director for North & Midlands, said: “As our construction works at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital progress, we are committed to engaging with the local supply chain to tailor work packages and articulate the business-to-business opportunities which will support their local expertise.

“To support West Midlands suppliers, we are planning a range of supply chain engagement activities with our partners including webinars, virtual site tours, podcasts and facilitated supplier visits. We are working with Sandwell Business Ambassadors to host a ‘meet the buyers’ session taking place on Thursday 8 October as part of the Black Country Business Festival.”

Alan Taylor is chair of Sandwell Business Ambassadors. “One of our goals as Ambassadors is to see more money invested, retained and recycled in the West Midlands economy, for the good of people and communities as well as businesses,” he said.

“We’re delighted with this new inclusive supply chain approach to healthcare investment, because it opens up opportunities for local firms who operate further down the supply chain. The introductions and business-networking support that is offered to SMEs in the region is already proving successful.

“Well done to Balfour Beatty, all project stakeholders and Sandwell Council for this initiative. And congratulations of course to the firms that have already won work on the landmark hospital”.

Our ‘meet the buyer’ session with Balfour Beatty will take place online on Thursday 8 October at 9.30am. You can sign up from the listing page on the Black Country Business Festival website.