Tilbury Douglas completes Shrewsbury Academy Project
Tilbury Douglas, a leading UK building, infrastructure, engineering, and fit-out business, has successfully completed its Shrewsbury Academy Project on behalf of the Department for Education and Marches Academies Trust.
The overall scheme was phased into three distinct sections – the first phase included the Haughmond building (refurbishment of the Former Sundorne Infants school), second was the new build and third the refurbishment works within the main school.
The most significant element was the construction of a new Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths (STEM) facility, which comprises of six science laboratories, a double-height Learning Resource Centre and dedicated food technology and graphics studios. The scheme also includes extensive hard and soft landscaping, a new central quadrangle and biodiversity enhancements, together with refurbishment of the interconnecting blocks to integrate seamlessly with the main school.
The completion of this project now allows the school to expand from 850 pupils to 1,200 pupils and offers fantastic new state of the art facilities for the students and teaching staff alike.
As part of Tilbury Douglas’ commitment to giving back to the local community, it had the pleasure of supporting Marches Academy Trust through several initiatives including the implementation of digital construction career pathways to their curriculum. It also delivered mock interview workshops at Shrewsbury Academy for Year 10 pupils, boosting their confidence and honing their employability skills.
To further broaden pupils’ understanding of the construction industry, Tilbury Douglas hosted four interactive sessions. Activities included a LEGO tendering challenge to build the most efficient, cost-effective structure, and a design task where pupils planned and created a town with considerations for planning, infrastructure, and sustainability.
During the Shrewsbury Academy project, Tilbury Douglas delivered over 124 weeks of work experience and T Level industry placements, giving students hands-on exposure to live construction, enhancing skills, confidence, and career awareness. The site team also hosted eight Build UK Open Doors 2025 sessions, offering young people insight into the sector and breaking down entry barriers.
The project created four local jobs, including Dre, who joined as a Labourer, received support to complete his master’s degree, and is now a permanent Assistant Engineer at Tilbury Douglas.
“Working with our other key stakeholders, we are proud to have completed this complex scheme converting this building that has had multiple additions. Working with the very new and the very old, the facilities, which were initially designed as a primary school in the 1950s, had a unique format.
“Whilst modernising this site and delivering new buildings, we were able to create many more accessible spaces, which provide state of the art facilities for the Academy, enabling it to offer first-class teaching to local students.”
Demonstrating its commitment to community impact has been a central part of Tilbury Douglas’ ethos while working in Shrewsbury. It supported causes including the 4 All Foundation, Prostate Cancer UK, and the Winter Wishes campaign, raising more than £3,200. These efforts highlight the company’s dedication to social value, community engagement, and leaving a lasting positive legacy.
