EMPLOYMENT and career prospects of adults and young people in East Sussex are being boosted by two major improvement schemes.

The contractors behind the Eastbourne Town Centre Improvement Scheme and Newhaven Port Access Road have pledged to provide jobs and work experience and to forge close links with local schools and colleges.

Mildren and BAM Nuttall, contractors for the Eastbourne and Newhaven schemes respectively, have committed to offering work experience placements and recruiting employees from the local workforce.

Both have also agreed to become East Sussex ‘Industry Champions’, representing their industry and delivering activities in schools, and to host ‘Open Doors’ visits, in which pupils visit their business to learn more about the world of work.

Mildren is also delivering talks on engineering to young people and working with three Eastbourne primary schools to deliver support for small-scale construction projects.

Meanwhile, BAM Nuttall will be offering summer placements for undergraduates and apprentices and their apprentices will visit local schools to promote the benefits of apprenticeships.

Cllr Rupert Simmons, East Sussex County Council lead member for economy, said: “Both these schemes will deliver significant benefits to the economy of East Sussex, bringing in visitors and attracting new jobs.

“It’s very gratifying to see that the contractors have also wholeheartedly embraced the idea of delivering additional social value during their time working on these projects.

“By pledging to recruit from the local workforce and by offering to work so closely with local schools and colleges, these companies have shown a real commitment to current and future employees in the county.”

The £6.2 million Eastbourne Town Centre Improvement scheme, a joint project by East Sussex County Council and Eastbourne Borough Council, is due for completion next summer and includes the installation of new street furniture, bus lanes, bus stops and high-quality paving.

The final slice of Government funding was approved last month (Aug) for the Newhaven Port Access Road, which will create a direct access to the East Quay and open up 80,000 sq m of business space, allowing the creation of new jobs. Work is due to begin in the autumn.