Factory builds bright futures
IT’S all systems go for The Factory – the landmark new cultural venue in the heart of the city centre, which will be the permanent home of the Manchester International Festival.
Work is now well underway on the OMA designed building which will be one of the largest and most flexible cultural spaces in the world.
It’s expected to attract up to 850,000 visitors a year, and deliver a £1.1bn boost to Manchester’s economy over a decade.
Creating opportunities for local people during construction is seen as vital by the council and matches its longer term aim for The Factory to be a place people will visit, feel part of, and learn new skills from.
Numerous work experience and volunteering opportunities are being created, as well as training programmes for long-term unemployed people, and also 65 apprenticeships.
One of the first apprentices to work on the project is Fiona Otoo who as a mature student already has a degree and had years of experience working in the visual arts before deciding on a career change.
Six months in as a construction apprentice, and she’s now passionate about apprenticeships and is hoping to be able to follow a new career in engineering at the end of it.
She said: “As a mature student I realised I’ve actually already got a lot of experience and skills that help me in my new role even though my apprenticeship is so different from what I did before.”
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, said: “Offering a year-round cultural programme and limitless creative opportunities is only one part of The Factory story.
“The opportunities it will also provide for training and learning new technical and creative industry specific skills are just as important.”