G&H has been appointed to deliver two school mechanical, electrical and public health (MEP) design and build contracts worth £7.8M, including its first project in collaboration with Wates.
Following competitive tender processes, MEP service provider G&H will support family-owned construction, development and property services company Wates, to deliver the new Joseph Norton Academy on behalf of Kirklees Council. It will also collaborate with Tilbury Douglas on Brunswick Community Primary School for the Department of Education.
Based in Huddersfield, the Joseph Norton Academy will create a 3,563 sq m specialist learning environment supporting 132 children and young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
G&H’s 50-strong team, including apprentices, will deliver a full mechanical, electrical and public health design and build package. Work began in April 2026.
On completion in November 2026 the building will feature a range of low-carbon technologies including photovoltaic (PV) panels, LED lighting, air source heat pumps (ASHP), heat recovery systems, and smart CO₂-controlled ventilation. In support of its sustainability goals, Kirklees Council is targeting an EPC A+ rating.
Dan Miller, operations director at Wates Construction said: “We’re looking forward to working with G&H on the Joseph Norton Academy and building a strong, collaborative partnership with them. Their expertise in MEP delivery will help ensure we deliver a high-quality, future-ready school environment that supports students and staff for years to come.”
Leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering and fit-out company, Tilbury Douglas, has appointed G&H to deliver a complete MEP design and build for Brunswick Community Primary School in Sheffield on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE).
Onsite works will begin in August 2026, with early-stage installation of the ground source heat pump, ahead of the main build phase. G&H’s 30-strong team will return to site in January 2027 to install the full mechanical and electrical services to the new building including the swimming pool and PV. The PV system alone is expected to reduce carbon emissions by circa 61,000kg annually. The project is scheduled for completion in August 2027.
David Wilson, operations manager north at G&H said: “Education continues to be a key growth sector for G&H, and these appointments mark an important milestone for the business, especially our first project with Wates. Both schemes allow us to apply our extensive experience in delivering low-carbon MEP solutions within specialist education environments.
“We’re pleased to be supporting the delivery of facilities that will enable children to access high-quality, modern learning environments.
“Building on over a decade of collaboration, we’re looking forward to partnering with Tilbury Douglas again to deliver Brunswick Community Primary School.”
