SAS Daniels LLP Advises Consortium Of Schools On 'Building Schools For The Future' Initiative

Cheshire-based Firm Beats Top 50 City and International Firm to the Deal

Over nine months of corporate legal advice by one Stockport based solicitor has been instrumental in the creation and launch of an organisation – the first of its kind in the country – to bring skills to young people and be contracted to run sixteen apprenticeships in the Wigan area.

Corporate lawyer Gareth Brewerton from SAS Daniels LLP beat a City and International firm to the job and led a team of lawyers from multi-legal disciplines including corporate, charities, property, employment and local authority law to advise a consortium of six school on a joint venture by creating the ‘Eastern Skills Centre’ as part of the Government’s ambitious ‘Building Schools for the Future’ initiative – the biggest ever school buildings investment programme.

The project brings together six high schools in the Leigh area of Wigan to provide a collaboration aiming to improve the learning and life chances of young people through new skills with assistance provided by Adactus Housing Group.

“The Skills Centre is operated by a private company set up under the auspices of the 2002 Education Act and the School Companies Regulations,” explains Gareth.

“Each school maintains its distinctive nature and ethos, but collective working in a joint venture enables the schools to pool their resources, ideas and expertise outside of the local authority.

“The whole project has been strongly supported by Adactus, the local housing association which has provided advice, guidance, expertise and financial commitment in the establishment and running of the centre together with Wigan MBC.”

The organisation will provide a realistic work environment for pupils together with around 14 to 16 courses for pupils at all six schools. It is anticipated that the centre will extend its offering to the wider community in the form of adult learning and there are plans to roll it out to other schools within the area shortly.

“It’s a demonstration of the schools involved to show their dedication and commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for learners,” said Gareth.

“There has been a lot of work and cooperation to make it happen but we’re now working towards charitable status to ensure the long term future of the venture from a legal stand point.”

Other legal advisors included Cobbetts LLP Manchester for Adactus and Brendan Whitworth, in-house counsel, for Wigan MBC.

SAS Daniels LLP has offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton, and Bramhall.