£300m Prison Expansion Project Set to Create Thousands of Construction Jobs

Wates has secured a significant £300 million contract to expand HMP Highpoint in Suffolk, presenting substantial employment opportunities across the construction sector. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) project will deliver 741 new category C prison places through the construction of three four-storey houseblocks using modern methods of construction (MMC).

Project Scope and Employment Opportunities

The prison expansion programme goes beyond simply building new accommodation blocks. The comprehensive development includes:

• Three four-storey houseblocks constructed using MMC techniques
• A new healthcare building
• A multipurpose workshop facility
• Additional kitchen space to service the entire prison
• Upgrades to existing buildings including the gym and gatehouse

This extensive scope means a wide variety of construction roles will be required throughout the project timeline, with completion scheduled for summer 2027.

Social Value and Skills Development

Phil Shortman, regional managing director for the MoJ at Wates, highlighted the social value aspects of the project, noting that "around 2,000 building components have been crafted in Ministry of Justice workshops, providing meaningful employment opportunities, helping develop valuable skills and supporting brighter futures."

The project promises to deliver substantial community benefits through:

• New apprenticeship positions
• Jobs specifically created for prison leavers
• Training and upskilling programmes for current prisoners
• Services benefiting the local Suffolk community

Industry Collaboration

The project brings together several major players in the construction sector, with Mace, Pick Everard, Baker Hicks, Gleeds and Prism Offsite Manufacturing all collaborating alongside Wates. This creates an ecosystem of employment opportunities across multiple organisations.

Wider Context and Future Opportunities

This project forms part of the government's Prison Estate Transformation Programme, which has adopted MMC approaches to deliver new prison facilities more efficiently. Construction professionals with MMC experience will be particularly valuable as this programme continues.

The HMP Highpoint expansion follows Wates and Kier being awarded a £500m contract in 2022 to build new houseblocks at six prisons, accommodating over 2,200 offenders. This demonstrates ongoing investment in this sector, promising sustained employment opportunities.

Skills Shortage Context

This major project comes at a time when the Home Builders Federation has warned that 240,000 new recruits are needed to meet housing targets. The prison expansion programme presents an important opportunity for construction workers to gain experience in MMC techniques that will increasingly be deployed across the residential sector.

Getting Involved

For construction professionals interested in these opportunities, monitoring the recruitment channels of Wates and their project partners over the coming months will be essential. Experience with MMC techniques will be particularly valuable, though the scale of the project means roles will be available across all construction disciplines.

With the project running until summer 2027, this represents a significant long-term employment opportunity in the Suffolk area, with potential for workers to develop skills that will serve them throughout the ongoing transformation of the UK's prison estate.