At the recent Partnerships Awards in London Kajima Partnerships and Interserve Investments won a Silver Award for its National Centre project in the Best Social Infrastructure Category at the biggest industry award evenings of the year. It was a memorable evening for Kajima, Interserve and SNBTS who celebrated along with 700 other guests and English comedian/actor Miles Jupp who was the host throughout the evening. In making the award some of the comments from the judges were:

“Complex building requirements designed and delivered with great engagement between private and public sector with a high quality building and impact. Impressive consideration and engagement in local employment and benefits for the wider community whilst delivering an impressive timetable from PQQ to Financial close.” 

“Highly complex architectural and technological design, social engagement and impact”

The project involves the creation of a purpose-built National Centre for SNBTS, part of NHS National Services Scotland.  This will be the newest, most modern blood centre in Europe, the last to be built/opened was Banc de Sang I Teixits de Catalunya in Barcelona in 2008. 

The project to deliver a National Centre is a unique opportunity for the private sector to work with NHS Scotland in the development of a facility that will be of European significance. The Centre will not only enable SNBTS to retain/enhance its position amongst the world’s leaders in the delivery of transfusion and cell therapy services, but will allow it to make a step change in service delivery. It has been an exciting journey for the team who share the vision of delivering a benchmark project on the Heriot-Watt Research Park, Edinburgh.

The Centre will allow SNBTS to meet two future challenges: (1) meeting the anticipated increase in demand for blood as the Scottish population ages and (2) expanding the range of available cellular therapies as this new science advances with the potential to transform patients’ lives.

For further information about the project, refer to the following websites:

www.scotblood.co.uk

www.interserve.com