St Michaels Academy in Billingham, Manor Community Academy in Hartlepool, St Anthony’s Girls Catholic Academy in Sunderland and The Grangefield Academy in Stockton have all undergone multi-million pound redevelopment, after receiving funding through the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP), a £2.4bn programme to rebuild 261 of the schools in England in the worst condition.
Godfrey Syrett, which has been supplying educational furniture to schools in the North East for almost 25 years, won the loose furniture contracts following a competitive tender process and worked to tight deadlines to deliver a quick turnaround from instruction to completion.
Amanda Shepherd, business development manager at Godfrey Syrett said: “It is great to be supplying furniture to local North East schools which are close to our Durham distribution hub and manufacturing facilities. The projects required a tremendous team effort, but we are very pleased to have delivered all contracts on time and in full.”
Godfrey Syrett’s education division accounts for a quarter of its £25 million turnover and has a 12-strong dedicated team of staff in addition to supporting a substantial number of subcontractors. The team delivers contracts working directly with schools and also on behalf of main contractors.
Godfrey Syrett makes the vast majority of its furniture here in the North East and it’s education portfolio includes fitted furniture such as science labs, food tech labs and teaching walls, along with a full range of loose furniture for classrooms, dining zones and administration areas.
Andrew Ramsey, head of school at St. Michaels Catholic Academy in Billingham said: “GSE provided a fantastic product and service in helping to fit out the new build at St Michael’s. From comprehensive advice and support at the ordering stage, to pulling out all the stops in a tight fit out window, GSE really went the extra mile. The pupils, teachers and wider community at St Michael’s are delighted with the new build and the furniture that’s helping make it such an outstanding learning environment.”
Earlier this year Godfrey Syrett was awarded fitted furniture contracts on behalf of Galliford Try at Longbenton Community College, Bedlingtonshire Community High School and The Duchess Community High School in Alnwick, all of which were re-built under the government’s PSBP. The firm has also secured the loose furniture elements, which are due to be installed over the summer.