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£80 million NAIC construction contract awarded to Balfour Beatty

The University of Warwick has announced today, Monday 30th March 2015, that the international infrastructure group Balfour Beatty has been awarded an £80 million contract to construct the National Automotive Innovation Centre (NAIC).

The 33,000m2 development on Warwick’s main campus site involves the construction of a four-storey ‘L’ shaped building that will house state-of-the-art teaching, research and development, design and engineering facilities.

NAIC will provide a national focus for expertise in automotive research and development. It will accommodate over 1,000 researchers, designers, students and engineers, fostering collaboration to develop and utilise new breakthrough vehicle technologies. The facility will also help to address the current shortage of skilled research and development staff in the automotive supply chain.

At the height of construction the building project will employ over 750 people and will also provide opportunities for apprenticeships and graduate and work experience placements. Work will commence this spring with completion in spring 2017.

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive Officer, said:

“This award adds to Balfour Beatty’s significant portfolio of university projects across the UK currently totaling over £350 million in value. We look forward to delivering a facility that will support the University of Warwick’s ambition to position the UK at the forefront of automotive research and development. Our commitment to apprenticeship, graduate and work placements, throughout project delivery will ensure Balfour Beatty’s contribution goes beyond the construction phase.”

Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Chairman of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), an academic department of the University of Warwick said:

“The National Automotive Innovation Centre will link people, research and world-leading infrastructure to create and develop novel technologies. NAIC will be an ‘engine’ for economic growth, with wide economic benefit, and sustained growth from the creation of world-leading technologies. Building will commence soon and through Balfour Beatty the construction of such a significant facility will bring equally significant economic and employment benefits to the local construction sector.”

NAIC is being funded through a collaboration between Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors European Technical Centre , WMG and the Government's UK Research Partnership Investment Fund (UKRPIF), which is administered by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The total investment in NAIC and the initial technologies it will house by will be £150 million.

For further information please contact:

Peter Dunn, Director of Press and Policy University of Warwick
Tel UK: 024 76523708 office 07767 655860 mobile Tel Overseas: +44 (0)24 76523708 office +44 (0)7767 655860
Email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

PR76 30th March 2015