Strawberry Field Training Centre

Robertson has constructed a training centre for the Salvation Army on the famous Strawberry Field site in Woolton, Liverpool. The centre provides specialist care for young adults with disabilities in Liverpool and will help to deliver educational, cultural and spiritual training.

The Salvation Army is the custodian and owner of the iconic Strawberry Field and Robertson has delivered a new £4.2m training hub, visitor experience and retreat on the site that was the inspiration for John Lennon and the 1967 Beatles song 'Strawberry Fields Forever'. The new hub will provide training, skills and valuable work experience for up to 40 young adults with learning disabilities and barriers to employment, in addition to delivering educational, cultural and spiritual training.

The 1,360m², steel-framed, two-storey building includes activity spaces, catering facilities, a community cafe and offices. Clad in natural timber and brick, the building blends with wooded areas in the surrounding landscape.

There is also a visitor centre, exhibition space and gift shop on site. This explores the story of the site as a place of peace and refuge, the song it inspired and John Lennon's early life.

Major Kathy Versfeld, Mission Director, The Salvation Army Strawberry Field, said "We were impressed by the team from Robertson, they listened to our client needs and grasped the vision of our plans to redevelop Strawberry Field. As a church and charity, building community is at the heart of everything we do, the Robertson team assisted us during the build process to keep all stakeholders actively involved, this reaped rewards for the overall success of the project."

During construction, Robertson employed three new apprentices and offered 26 placements for college students in partnership with Liverpool City College. In addition, Robertson was able to support The Salvation Army's Steps to Work programme which will be run from Strawberry Field.