Four West Midlands-based construction organisations and projects have been recognised for their performance in the field of integration and collaborative working.
Build Up North Staffordshire, Frank Haslam Milan Ltd, Norwest Holst Ltd (now VINCI Construction UK Ltd) and the Sandwell Decent Homes Partnership have been named finalists of the Constructing Excellence 2009 Integration and Collaborative Working Award category, sponsored by Advantage Offsite.
The West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE) will be announcing the winners of a total of six categories at the Celebrating Construction awards dinner on April 24.
Michael Thompson, Executive Director, WMCCE, and member of the West Midlands Constructing Excellence Awards judging panel, said: “The four finalists have demonstrated significant achievements in establishing integrated and collaborative ways of working, adding value to the client’s business and enhancing the effectiveness of all levels of the supply chain.”
Coun Hazel Lyth, Stoke-on-Trent City Council portfolio holder for enterprise and culture, said: “Build Up North Staffordshire is helping local businesses secure local jobs – something which is vital in the current economic climate.
“The project has already attracted more than 300 businesses, supported 28 apprenticeships and provided business support for more than 100 suppliers. It is a project which is gaining support all the time and is helping businesses not only adapt in difficult times but succeed.”
Frank Haslam Milan Ltd is one of three construction companies working in partnership with Wolverhampton Homes on a £280million project to transform 24,000 homes, to meet the Government’s Decent Homes Standard by 2012.
“We are already sharing IT and filing systems, reducing waste and increasing recycling”, said Fraser Mercer, Managing Director Frank Haslam Milan Ltd.
Frank Haslam Milan’s partnership refurbishment scheme was recently adopted by the Learning and Skills Council as an accredited national skills academy.
VINCI Construction UK Limited, through working as an integrated team, delivered the University of Birmingham’s £34.5m, Mason Hall student residencies development.
Mike Voss, Regional Director, said: “Budgetary constraints and a need to stay faithful to the design intent required all our focus.
The spirit endeared, and collaborative working approach adopted by the client, design and construction team resulted in innovative solutions – especially the blending of precast concrete and steel resulting in the successful delivery of the facility”.
The Sandwell Decent Homes Partnership (involving Sandwell Homes, Taylor Woodrow, Lovell Partnerships, Wates Living Space, Connaught Partnerships, Sandwell MBC Urban Design, Rider Levett Bucknall and Thomas Vale Construction) is in the middle of an estimated £425million project, delivering improvements to 30,000 homes over five to seven years.
“Led by a strategic board, the partnership uses collaborative working practices and hosts monthly delivery group meetings to best utilise the expertise of all the contractors,” said Simon Parry, Head of Partnership Management for the SDHP.
“Thanks to the partnership, 14,000 homes in Sandwell have now been refurbished to above the ‘decent homes’ standard”,
The five other categories of the Constructing Excellence Awards 2009 are Leadership in People Development, Health and Safety, Innovation, Sustainability and Major Contribution to Excellence and Quality.
Co-hosted by WMCCE, Birmingham City Council’s Building Consultancy service and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) West Midlands branch, the event will incorporate both the WMCCE awards and Birmingham City Council’s Building Consultancy service annual Built in Quality awards.
WMCCE is part-funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund. The Centre is supported by the University of Wolverhampton and offers subsidised business improvement services.
