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Ed Balls, Iain Wright & Sir Alex Ferguson visit Manchester Central

Published at 14:07 on 28th of October 2009

Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, visited Manchester Central on 26th October, along with Schools Minister Iain Wright and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, to launch a new Careers Education Strategy.

Sir Alex Ferguson has given his support to the campaign and highlighted the Apprenticeship opportunities for young people at Manchester United.

The group visited Manchester Central to meet with Laing O’Rourke, the sole contractors for the venue’s redevelopment programme, to talk about their involvement with Manchester Internships. Ed Balls, Iain Wright and Sir Alex spent time chatting with mentors from Laing O’Rourke, a former intern who is now full time employee, and the interns working with the construction firm on Manchester Central’s redevelopment.

Work on the second phase of the extensive redevelopment programme at Manchester Central is currently coming to an end, with the new central foyer due to be fully open mid November. Laing O’Rourke have now started work on the final phase, which will include additional seminar spaces.

The redevelopment programme at Manchester Central, which will cost in excess of £20 million, has been designed to add to the venue’s appeal as a major conference, exhibition and event complex.