Building refurbishment opportunity to tender

Set in the heart of our community in Hulme, Manchester; Venture Arts is an award-winning visual arts charity working with over 200 learning disabled people every year. Through our studio programmes, exhibitions and collaborative projects, we remove barriers to the arts, we put artists in the lead, we champion neurodiversity and provide pathways for every individual to develop their creative identity.

We are about to embark upon an exciting capital redevelopment project that will transform our existing disparate accommodation into Manchester’s first fully inclusive studio space. The project will enable us to work with more learning disabled & neurodivergent artists and to do so in ways that are more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable than our current spaces will allow.

Venture Arts invites principal contractor tenders for the proposed refurbishment and fit out of the Venture Arts suites at 43-45 Old Birley Street, Hulme, Manchester. M15 5RF.

The tender drawings are provided by Sheila Bird Studio and can be viewed here.

In tendering for this work, you will need to provide confirmation/ details of the following:

– Company Insurance details and levels to comply with the following; Employers Liability – £10 million, Public Liability – £5 million and Professional Indemnity – £1 million, each and every claim.

– Copies of your company’s environmental policy, with specific consideration for waste management and disposal.

– Details of similarly completed projects, in both complexity and value and arrange site visits is requested.

– References from two clients of similarly sized projects.

– Confirm that you are a member of recommended industry assessment scheme such as CHAS/ Construction Line /

– Copies of your company’s Modern Slavery and Ethical Policies.

– Copies of your most recent set of business accounts for review.

– Confirm your willingness to enter into a performance bond for the value of the project, if so required.

– Information of any prosecutions and, or, prohibition notices served by the Health & Safety Executive against your business in the past five years.

– Confirm that you have the capacity, both financially and logistically to commence the project prior to 31 March 2025  and to complete the project within the proposed 16 week window.

Project Overview

The works will consist of the strip out and refurbishment of the ground and first floor suites of 43 Old Birley Street and the fit out of the space in line with the Sheila Bird Studio design pack. The works will also include the installation of a passenger lift to the common area staircase situated to the far right of the space.

The building sits within a mixed-use site with residential apartments above and to the rear of the proposed site. There are also art studios and cafes included in the complex and an outdoor garden area.

Program

We require the works to commence on site prior to 31 March 2025 and anticipate that the works will be completed within an overall program of circa sixteen weeks.

Works are to be undertaken Monday to Friday, noisy works will not be permitted prior to 9am, or after 5pm, due to the proximity of the residential apartments above and to the rear of the site.

Contractual

The works will be progressed under a JCT Minor Works Form of contract.

To Apply

If you can fulfil the above criteria and would like further information to apply, please contact marisa@venturearts.org by Thu 27 Feb 2025.