Interserve awarded £5.6m contract to build special needs academy in Sheffield

Interserve Group Limited, the international support services, construction and equipment group, has been selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to design and build the new £5.6m Discovery Special Academy in Sheffield, as part of its Free School programme.

This is the ninth new school build project that Interserve has won this year following earlier contract wins in Middlesbrough, Hereford and Leicester worth more than £54m and underscores the company’s successful strategy of focusing on key education projects in the UK.

The new 80-place special free school will be run by Nexus Multi Academy Trust, providing education and support for children with autism spectrum disorder and social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs in Sheffield.

Works include the demolition of the former Norfolk Park School and the construction of the new single-storey, part dual-storey school building, including a multi-use games area.

Work is due to commence in February 2020 and the new building will be complete in time for the start of the 2021/22 academic year.

Interserve has a strong track record working alongside the DfE to successfully deliver education construction projects across the UK. The Norfolk Park School contract win is the eighth new school build project that Interserve has won this year following earlier contract wins in Bristol, Leicestershire and Manchester worth more than £41m.

Paul Ellenor, Regional Director at Interserve Construction, said: “The UK education sector is a key strategic sector for Interserve and we are delighted to have been chosen to deliver the Discovery Academy project for the Department of Education, building on our strong education portfolio within the Yorkshire region.

“At Interserve we are committed to investing in the communities in which we live, and work and we will look to maximise local supply chain involvement as well as creating new jobs for local people.”