Forth Valley College is a leading provider of further and higher education, offering a wide range of courses and training opportunities.
Client Requirements
The college recently built its new headquarters in Falkirk. This £78m, state-of-the-art facility will provide its students with a 21st Century learning environment.
Its campus’ focus will be on Science and Engineering with advanced level courses in Business, Computing, Construction, Sport, Hairdressing, Beauty Therapy, and Healthcare.
Pickfords was chosen (through its inclusion on the APUC Framework) to manage the relocation project.
The project included the phased relocation of approximately 400 staff, including workshops, machinery, personal belongings, IT equipment, filing and general office items, teaching materials, resources and equipment, from its existing premises to the new campus in Falkirk.
Challenges
The project presented a number of challenges to overcome. One such challenge was a delay in the build, which meant the new campus was not ready on the planned handover date.
Pickfords had to be very flexible with its crew sizes, productivity and cost control, and managed to overcome this challenge through meetings with the builder and the project team to resolve access issues.
- Project Timescales was over Christmas and New Year break
- Handover dates for the new campus
- Post project environment recycle of the old campus.
Solution
Pickfords’ Move Management Team integrated itself into the already established project team and planned the department/room move programme that was vital to the success of this project. Through the coming weeks and with the support of the College and its staff, we had an agreed project programme.
Pickfords supplied and delivered all resource necessary to protect and move the College’s items. We also arranged for the delivery of crates to, and the collection from individual floors or offices as specified by the College.
Following pre-removal planning meetings and full pre-move site walk-rounds, we discussed the move principles, arrangements, and co-ordination with the College.
Before each phase we held briefing meetings with the College to discuss the proposed arrangements for the move, and as the move progressed, each briefing was preceded by a de-briefing from the previous move.
The relocation took place over Christmas and New Year, was phased over a 5-week period, and involved the relocation of a large amount of crates, furniture, equipment, consumables, and specialist equipment including high value items.
Pickfords packed, relocated, unpacked and placed items including:
- General departmental filing
- Teaching resources and materials
- Workshop and teaching equipment
- Portable sports and science equipment
- The packing, relocation and unpacking of Library stock
- Stationery and printing supplies
- Merchandise, promotional materials, publications, etc.
- Approximately 60 linear metres of chemicals / hazardous materials.
- Catering equipment, including rationale/work top ovens
- Construction equipment, including tools, consumables, and materials that we decommissioned, relocated and reconnected
- Engineering & Mechanic equipment including workshop benches, car engines, and digital equipment that we decommissioned, relocated and reconnected
- Gym equipment
- Safe
- Estates department equipment that included traffic barriers, and electric bikes
Approach to health and safety in a 'live environment'
The health and safety of the all staff, students, public and our workers are always at the forefront of our mind.
With this environment we did have students at the end of their study year in the College when we were working. To mitigate any risk we stopped working while the classes were out during breaks, lunch or leaving. This did however have an impact on productivity we planned for this during the planning stage so there were no surprises.
Summary
- Relocations were completed in full prior to College staff returning for the new term to resume at the new Campus.
- The moves into the new campus were completed on time, and within budget.
- Our post move review meeting with the client was a very positive meeting. We had been giving glowing feedback on the flexibility of the crew and team. Issue resolution was the main reason for project success.