CUADRILLA LAUNCHES ITS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COMMITMENTS TO LANCASHIRE AHEAD OF SHALE GAS EXPLORATION COMMENCING
Cuadrilla CEO Francis Egan today signed six public commitments to the county of Lancashire to commit Cuadrilla to putting Lancashire first in terms of creating jobs, investment, new skills and community initiatives as a result of shale gas exploration and, if exploration is successful, shale gas production in Lancashire.
The “Putting Lancashire First” commitments are measured with an independently audited tracker which will be published quarterly in 2017 as exploration work begins. The 2016 tracker so far demonstrates that, even though the company undertook no site operation work this year, by moving its HQ to Lancashire it has already created 14 full time jobs and nearly £700,000 has directly gone into the Lancashire economy.
Cuadrilla is also pleased to announce that it has awarded its Preston New Road shale gas exploration site build contract to Bolton based civil engineering firm AE Yates Ltd. The contract, worth approximately £1.5 million, ensures further jobs will be created in Lancashire and local suppliers will benefit from sub contracted work. Work is expected to start in early 2017.
Lancashire businesses are encouraged to register with the new Supply Chain Portal ( www.shalegaslancashire.co.uk) managed by both Lancashire Chamber of Commerces in order to be considered for contracts connected to the Preston New Road operations. Over 700 Lancashire businesses are already registered.
Francis Egan, CEO of Cuadrilla, said:“Putting Lancashire First is about a way of doing business and we are committed to putting the County first with new jobs, economic growth and community benefits, promoting prosperity for current and future generations of Lancastrians. We have often spoken about how shale gas will benefit Lancashire as well as enhancing national energy security and now we are turning those words into action.”
The company unveiled its plans and new Lancashire logo at an event at AFC Fylde new conference facilities. Guest speakers included Edwin Booth, Chairman of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, David Haythornthwaite, Chairman of AFC Fylde; Babs Murphy, CEO, North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce; Mike Damms, CEO, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Daryl Platt, Executive Director of Commercial Development of Blackpool and The Fylde College.
