Constructing Excellence in Wales

Integration & Collaborative Working – sponsored by Hugh James Solicitors

North Factory Project – Airbus Operations Ltd

The North Factory Project at Airbus Operations’ Broughton site is vast in its scale.  At its peak some 300 people on site will be employed via 15 supply chain partners, made up from a significant number of local companies.  It is also a core project for Airbus and the UK aviation industry.  As such it needed a client with a clear vision and a commitment to collaborative working: which was exactly what it got.  The judges were very impressed with how Airbus became fully involved, had a clear strategy and managed a process in which the team was completely included.  The open plan shared office illustrated the collaborative approach, backed with an open book commercial approach and the open and honest reporting wall system.  The personal commitment to build the team came over clearly; the ‘no blame’ culture the project team aspired to was genuine not just lip service and it was clear to the judges that the entire workforce is bought into the approach.

Leadership and People Development – sponsored by Morgan Cole Solicitors

GKR Maintenance & Building Co Ltd

GKR Maintenance & Building is a small, medium sized business based in Caerphilly delivering maintenance and building services to local authorities and social landlords and other organisations in the retail and leisure sector. Although successful, with a £6m turnover, GKR knew that its 20 office staff and another 80 tradesmen were key to its growth and ability to survive the economic downturn.  Staff turnover was low and there was a high degree of loyalty to the business, but it needed to improve and develop its own people and reduce its reliance upon sub-contractors.  Two directors were chosen to lead the development of its people, one with involved with IIP and the other leading on an NVQ in Business Improvement Techniques (BIT).  The aim and vision for the whole initiative was to formalize communication with employees and improve communication throughout the company, introducing a quarterly newsletter.  The newsletter has been a success; all staff has had appraisals and jobs chats and have a clearer idea of their role and place in the business.  Feedback is positive and customer satisfaction is up by 13% and productivity has increased by 4%.  The business achieved Investors in People status in the summer of 2009 and has shared its experience with sub-contractors, many of whom are now interested in the IIP process. 

SME Award – sponsored by South East Wales Club

Derwen Aggregates

Derwen Aggregates is one of the most successful waste handling organisations in Wales and as such has achieved PAS 402:2009 and is a founding Green Compass Scheme member.  Its contribution to the Swansea Quadrant Interchange reflects an innovative approach to minimising waste and the foresight of its management team, led by Mark Davies.

Since the Swansea Quadrant Interchange project started in June 2009, Willmott Dixon and Dawnus formed an effective and collaborative relationship with Derwen Aggregates of Neath Abbey, building on relationships formed on previous contracts.  Both Dawnus and the CEW judges were hugely impresses with the commitment and innovative approach of the business.  This is shown by what the judges observed was a bold move to design, build and commission a state of the art aggregate washing and recycling facility.  This early and innovative approach was taken well before legislative demands were placed on companies to use recycled aggregates and the bespoke, purpose built plant is the only one of its kind in Wales. The process recycles inert material that would otherwise be disposed of at landfill, something that was crucial to the successful removal and then reuse of materials at the Swansea Quadrant Interchange.  Derwen invested around £2.8m into its new venture that addressed the changes in legislation that came about.  Its bold approach, commitment to collaborative working and improvement of its people and all round approach to waste minimisation makes it a worthy winner.

Innovation – sponsored by ChandlerKBS

North Factory Project – Airbus Operations Ltd – ‘Siltbuster’

The North Factory Project at Airbus Operations’ Broughton site is vast in its scale. Built to accommodate the wing assembly for the A350 XWB, the facility measures 52,000m² and comprises of a steel frame structure in a three bay configuration.   To support this vast structure, highly complex machine bases and concrete floors 8,000 piles have been designed and installed.   The project uses around 50,000m³ of concrete and subsequently generates concrete washout of 176,800 litres.  But as the site is governed by IPPC Regulations controlling the pollution to air, land and water Airbus must minimise pollution and it has to make sure it uses the best available techniques (BAT) to minimise pollution to groundwater.  The team selected ‘Siltbuster’ a portable Roadside Concrete Washout System.  The system was researched, presented and then implemented into the North Factory Project in March 2009 to provide an innovative and environmentally compliant solution to the vast amount of concrete wash out water disposal.  The Siltbuster unit is unique in today’s market and tackles environmental challenges within the construction industry head on due to it’s ability to transform harmful liquid waste into neutral water which can be discharged to ground without any harmful effects on the environment. The judges said that the scale of the cost, environmental and logistics savings is enormous.

Low/Zero Carbon Award – sponsored by BRE

Mariners Quay

Mariners Quay is in one of the most deprived areas of Wales and as a Code Level 5 housing scheme is a Welsh Assembly Government pilot project.  The team behind the project, led by Leadbitter and its client, Seren Group, worked with its stakeholders Newport City Council Newport Unlimited and the Government to embrace the low carbon target from the outset.  Mariners Quay is at the forefront of implementation of Site Waste Management Plans, Energy and Co2/emissions reporting.  A total of 12,000 m³ of waste will be generated by the end of the project; so far around 88 percent of it  has been diverted from landfill whilst over 60 percent has been re-used on site.  The energy usage at Mariner’s Quay is monitored daily; this includes reading all statutory meters to keep an accurate account of the amount of energy being used; the data is then analysed to find the peaks and troughs of energy use. Once established, targets are set for the following month to help ensure levels of improvements in the amount of energy used. The project reached out into the community and there was intent throughout to create a place that people would want to visit.

Achievers Award – sponsored by Value Wales

Simon Lander, ChandlerKBS

In every area of his work he espouses the belief that collaborative contracts and relationships work better than adversarial ones delivering long term benefits to the client, main contractor and supply chain as a whole. Colleagues and clients alike have commented on his quiet confidence and his complete objectivity and fairness. His approach has inspired project teams and his team ethic has helped overcome difficult periods on site.  His advice, guidance and commitment to rethinking construction ideals as been instrumental to adding value to high profile projects across Wales.  His administration of contracts of all types is an exemplar to others and embodies all of the qualities of collaborative working within the construction industry.

Waste Minimisation – sponsored by WRAP

Swansea Quadrant Interchange – Groundworks

The judges were very impressed with way the entire project team behind the Swansea Quadrant Interchange worked together.  Dawnus and Willmott Dixon joined forces at the tender stage to create a sustainable waste minimisation and recycling plan that included Derwen – a local waste handler and one of the Green Compass pilot organisations.  The result was the smooth and well managed removal of excavated waste from the site and a very impressive how high value recycled aggregate returned back from the waste handler.  The team also made sure there was low impact on the local environment through efficient transport management.  One of the best striking aspects of the process is how the waste was segregated and then how Derwen added value in how obtaining reusable aggregate.  It is a fine example of closed loop recycling.

Client of the Year – sponsored by Costain

Welsh Health Estates

Welsh Health Estates (WHE) is delivering the Designed for Life; Building for Wales Framework.  It is a crucial piece of work designed to change the face of healthcare facilities procurement across Wales and has a budget of around £1.7bn and represents a ten year work stream.  WHE has a small team charged with oversseeing the framework and working in partnership with the Healthcare Trusts across the country and its three core contrcators, Laing O’Rourke, BAM Construction and Interserve.  Having started in 2006 the project has enjoyed a positive impact.  Schemes have reaches site stage faster than via normal procurement processes, local labour and sub-contractors have been used and knowledge is shared up and down the supply chain.  The scale of the framework is huge and the judges noted the governance and overall structure (that has been put in place by WHE) is ‘impressive and comprehensive’. This approach is not only a good example but crucial to maximising value for money at a time of financial constraint.  WHE has shown strong leadership from the outset, a commitment to the development of local SMEs and its partners and stakeholders are strongly supported by the client.  The judges commented that it won the category as it moves the construction industry forward in terms of project delivery and supply chain.

Project of the Year – sponsored by CLAW

Newport High School

Newport High School is a high achiever.  Not just in the manner that the construction project was delivered and its successful record on waste, but in embracing the needs of the local community and inspiring staff and pupils.  At the heart of the redevelopment was Newport City Council’s vision: ‘All our Children, all our Business’ designed to make the school a catalyst for social and economic regeneration.  With a clear strategy and early contractor involvement the team looked to use local people (50% were from Newport and 80% from South Wales), local skills and enhance training opportunities from the outset of the project.  The judges were hugely impressed with how the pupils and community were engaged and the strong sense of identity that was established within the community.

Built by Leadbitters and opened by the Princess Royal in February 2010, Newport High School is designed for 1,100 students with a variety of flexible spaces to reflect the curriculum demands and school needs.  It is a contemporary, sustainable environment that is a symbol of civic pride.  Not only that but it is the first secondary school in Wales to achieve BREEAM Excellent status and was completed with no reportable accidents.