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APRIL 2014

Whos Who in Construction


West Midlands

S P E C I A L

P U B L I C AT I O N

WHOS WHO IN CONSTRUCTION

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014

F a growing groundworks and civil engineering company wins regular repeat business, has outstanding staff retention and regularly wins awards, its success is clearly not a matter of chance. When building contractor Tom OBrien started his own business in 1958, he could not have dreamed of the growth and success that lay ahead. Today, while OBrien Contractors is still a family-run business based in Leamington Spa, it enjoys a growing national reputation. It has just been named Contractor of the Year in the Building Awards 2014, the most prestigious awards in the UK construction and civil engineering sector. OBrien customers were not surprised to learn of the latest recognition, which follows a number of other national and local award successes. As for OBrien itself, the company does not set out to win awards but regards them as a bonus, a by-product of carrying out excellent work. Toms son, Peter OBrien, is the companys managing director and he says, The strategy weve been working to has been firmly grounded in a vision for the future in which OBriens continues to deliver excellent projects for our customers and provide a supportive and motivational workplace where people feel valued and have a clear path of progression. With the building sector always the first to suffer in any recession, strong leadership has been key to OBriens growth through the recent tough times. Over four years, a carefully charted diversification initiative saw it evolve from its role as a specialist sub-contractor. Now, as a principal design and build contractor, it can meet every requirement of a civil engineering project. The company results speak for themselves, with improvement in every key business measurement from productivity to profit. The bare numbers really come to life when customers, suppliers and business partners are given the opportunity to comment upon OBrien Contractors. Derbyshire is the site of its largest

OBrien: rated the UKs best building contractor


OBRIEN CONTRACTORS, 2013 KEY STATISTICS: n turnover increased 2.3% to 14.1 million n repeat business increased from 80% to 85% n tender success increased from 19% to 24% n productivity increased by 8% ever project, a 10 million contract for Nestl, a customer that has come to regard OBrien as, very knowledgeable and capable. It adds, We have been particularly impressed with their creative solutions to the inevitable problems that arise on projects of this scale. OBrien enjoys equally strong endorsement from other partners, thanks to a deliberate focus on supply chain management. Its cement supplier, household name Tarmac, has decades of experience in the sector and is clear about why they work so well together: We have a very successful relationship that is built on trust and responsibility. We understand the importance of good communication, reliability and delivering to targets, and OBrien consistently delivers on those factors. As for its own people, OBriens has an unusually low staff turnover for the building sector, which speaks volumes for its attitude to human resources. An independent survey found that 92% are proud to work for the company, with 100% planning still to be with OBrien in a years time. The average employee has already been with the company for more than seven years. A strong training culture ensures substantial annual investment, which increases year upon year. Outstanding staff performance and commitment are rewarded with bonuses and prizes, while planned OBRIEN CONTRACTORS, SPECIALISTS IN: n pre-construction services n design and build n sports pitch construction n traditional contracting n plant hire not tell the whole story. OBrien also stands apart from competitors with its approach to research and development. While other contractors faced the recession with grim pessimism, OBrien conducted significant research in search of untapped potential. Among its findings, it identified specialist sports pitch construction as an area of potential growth. OBrien is now one of just a handful of main contractors with full turnkey expertise in sports pitches. Developing specialist expertise in this niche already contributes over 2 million to OBrien turnover. This is not OBriens only area of innovation. A pioneering partnership with specialists Korec enables it to offer aerial photography and surveying. It leads in recycling initiatives, reducing waste and disposal costs by re-using excavated earth wherever possible. Investment in the latest technology is constant, from heavy plant to laser levelling,. OBrien has an impressive roster of satisfied customers, from Jaguar Land Rover to Aston University, from Eastwood School to Hanson. It has every possible qualification and certification. Through it all, though, OBrien never forgets its roots as a family business. In its Warwickshire home area, it sponsors sports clubs, gives equipment to schools, donates resources to allotments, loans staff and materials to community projects and is regularly involved in charity fundraising. OBrien Contractors is not just an award-winning design and build contractor. It also wins the support of everyone who deals with the company.

career development means that promotion from within is a regular occurrence. Most importantly, the OBrien approach to health and safety has delivered an exceptional and improving record. It employs a specialist consultancy, Hudson Health & Safety Services, which says:

OBriens commitment to H&S is very impressive and continually exceeds common practice in their sector. OBrien Contractors set standards in so many areas: customer and supplier relations, human resources policies, health and safety. These do

>>OBrien has an impressive roster of satised customers

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014

WHOS WHO IN CONSTRUCTION

Restructuring for growth at Speller Metcalfe


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or the last few months we have seen confidence being reinstated in the construction sector; in February 2014 a survey by the Markit/CIPS purchasing managers index (PMI) stated that construction had grown at its fastest pace for 6.5 years, alongside the CITB predicting in January that 182,000 new jobs will be needed across industry over the next four years. Speller Metcalfe has certainly seen evidence of these claims; our key sectors and regions (predominantly the West Midlands, Southwest and London) have been progressively making pace over the last year and as such we made the strategic decision to re-structure the company for predicted growth. In September 2013 we opened a new office in the Black Country, and have also grown our staff numbers from 130 to over 175 across the Company over the last six months, enabling us to continue to deliver on our unique position as a family-run business offering our clients best value and practise. Just one recent example is a new build depot we completed for repeat client, Western Power Distribution (one of 10 schemes completed as an approved contractor), which based in Lincolnshire has just achieved a BREEAM Outstanding score of 100.5 per cent the highest scoring project in the UK to date. We are also coming to the close of

>>Steve Speller, Joint Managing Director, Speller Metcalfe and, right, BREEAM Outstanding score of 100.5 per cent at Western Power Distribution

the West Midlands Contractor Framework later this year, where Speller Metcalfe has consistently stayed at the top of the KPI scoring table just over the last year alone both examples of our long-term commitment to quality and best practise and certainly what contributed to seeing us through the more difficult years of the recession. As we move forward our turnover, forward secured workload and

average project values also reflect our ability to grow with our clients and deliver on a range of scheme types; two years ago our average sized project was 3.1m where now it is 8m - although we are currently working on schemes up to the value

of 22m. For 2014-15, our turnover is estimated to be 106m with 90 per cent of our workload already secured, which is fantastic achievement at the start of our financial year. We are now in a position where we

are stabilising staff levels and company practises to ensure that our existing clients continue to receive our familiar, family-run business approach and high quality of service that Speller Metcalfe has become renowned for.

Choose the contractor the industry rates the highest


When OBrien Contractors was named Contractor of the Year in the Building Awards 2014, customers were not surprised. This is not their first award, after all. Recognition from peers, customers and suppliers is a regular occurrence for a firm that aims higher. Find out why OBrien wins more repeat business than most.Talk to the contractor trusted by Jaguar Land Rover, chosen by Aston University, loved by its staff. For civil engineering and infrastructure or a specialist sports pitch, OBrien has the know-how you need. Call the Midlands leading contractor. A winning reputation for contracting excellence.

DESIGN & BUILD CONTRACTORS Specialists in: Pre-Construction Services Groundworks Civil Engineering Infrastructure Developments Sports Pitch Construction Plant Hire

Also the proud winners of:

When planning a construction project make OBrien your first choice.

www.obriencontractors.co.uk
T: 01926 423918 E: info@obriencontractors.co.uk

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014

WHOS WHO IN CONSTRUCTION

Willmott Dixon: business is shaping up nicely


Midlands construction contractor Willmott Dixon announced plans earlier this year to recruit nearly 200 people as part of a major recruitment drive as the firm continues to expand across the region, driven by increased demand for its services. Peter Owen, Midlands region managing director for Willmott Dixon Construction, said the business is cautiously optimistic about the recovering market conditions

>>The University of Leicester Centre for Medicine, currently being built by Willmott Dixon

TS a strange thing talking about business success, particularly in the construction industry, which hasnt had much to shout about over the last few years. Success can take many forms; just surviving through the recession could be deemed a success, and why not? A lot of firms were unfortunately unsuccessful in their battle against the downturn, so those who weathered the storm should be rightly proud of their achievement. Wilmott Dixon is enjoying success on a number of fronts, not least the fact that this year the companys various businesses in the region are planning to significantly expand their workforce by recruiting 200 people to support their growth plans. This follows the creation of 100 jobs last year, meaning that Willmott Dixon now employs more than 1,000 in the West Midlands. The firms recruitment plans are a big indicator of the wider economic growth thats envisaged across the region in 2014 and beyond, and the growth thats forecast for the business across its Construction, Housing and Partnerships divisions. In the Midlands, the order book for Construction currently stands at around 150 million for the year. Furthermore, we are in the fortunate position of having already secured this years target turnover and a significant proportion of next years. We are currently looking at how we might successfully increase the targets and deliver better results. Local authority procurement frameworks, such as SCAPE and

Construction West Midlands (CWM), continue to be an important source of work, with Willmott Dixon currently working on more than 100 million worth of projects awarded through various frameworks, including amongst many others a new leisure centre in Coventry city centre to replace the previous AT7 pool, a Hub & Visual Arts Building for Loughborough College and the new Clubhouse Stand at Moseley RFC. Equally as important to Willmott Dixon is the tendering market, particularly for projects in the commercial, health, science and technology, and education, including HEFE sectors, all of which Willmott Dixon has considerable experience of. In the HEFE sector, major projects include the 46 million second phase of Birmingham City Universitys new campus in East Side, following the successful completion of phase one, the Parkside Building, last year. The Parkside Building is regarded as one of the most advanced teaching and learning spaces in the country, providing world-class design, technology and media facilities for students, as well as being an exemplar of best practice with an excellent internal environment, good accessibility and is highly sustainable in terms of design, construction and operation. Willmott Dixon is also building a new 29 million Centre for Medicine for the University of Leicester, which is the largest non-residential project in the UK to meet Passivhaus standards. The company is establishing a strong reputation in the commercial office sector too, whether its for new build projects, fit-outs or refurbishments. Refurbishment offers the opportunity not just for cosmetic improvements, but also achieving significant OpEx cost savings: a

>>Birmingham City Universitys new Parkside Building, which was completed by Willmott Dixon last year.

compelling argument for any tenant in challenging economic times. Before embarking on any improvements, landlords need to establish how their buildings are currently performing. This will require a technical investigation, starting with a

structural examination, an assessment of performance standards, review of equipment and feedback from occupiers. An energy and building fabric survey of a typical 1970s office building, for example, may identify a

wide range of measures for improving the space, including heating system upgrades, wall insulation and improvements to lighting systems. Together with improvements to service controls and energy management within the building, a 35 per cent reduction in building carbon emissions could be achieved. Of course, it isnt just about meeting green standards. A new office whether that involves a move or transforming existing space - is also an opportunity to change the way people view their workplace, boost productivity and encourage a more dynamic attitude to work. So whether your motivation is saving money, improving energy efficiency or just creating a better working environment, Willmott Dixon can provide the right solution for you. In Leicester, for example, Willmott Dixon is nearing the completion of the relocation of the Leicester City Council offices from the New Walk Centre to the currently undergoing refurbishment of a nearby 1960s office block to create a new City Hall, while in Derby city centre the company is building a new office for start-up businesses in its Cathedral Quarter for Derby City Council. The commercial office market is certainly an area that we are seeing increased activity and one we expect to see further success in the future. Combine this with growth in other sectors, such as HEFE/education, leisure and culture, health, custodial, as well as across other divisions, including housing and Partnerships, which is responsible for delivering repairs and maintenance to 60,000 properties owned by Birmingham City Council, and its clear that the business is in a good position to continue the trend for growth that it has seen over the past few years.

BUILDING A LOCAL FOCUS WITH GLOBAL STRENGTH


One of the UKs most awarded principal contractors, ThomasValeConstructionisnowpartoftheBouygues Construction Group with a global turnover exceeding 30billion.
Today, the business continues to work on Client and Stakeholder-led relationships delivering innovative and commercially-sound solutions to the public and private sectors. We are passionate about ensuring that we are at the forefront of change within the industry, delivering solutions in partnership with clients and stakeholders while embracing innovation and continuous improvement. It is this local expertise and focus on intelligent, competitive delivery, twinned with the resources, reach and backing of our parent company that makes Thomas Vale proud to be part of Bouygues UK the edge, delivering work with passion, flair and innovation.

@thomas_vale WWW.THOMASVALE.COM

A Bouygues UK Company

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014

WHOS WHO IN CONSTRUCTION

New landmark Headquarters for the West Bromwich


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OLLOWING Sandwell Council granting permission for the West Brom building society to build a new HQ in its home town of West Bromwich, Thomas Vale with their renowned ability are working with Capita and Associated Architects to combine inspirational design, quality construction and project management to deliver 70,000 sq ft of office space. The Providence Place development supports both the physical and economic regeneration of West Bromwich by providing the town centre with state of the art office space. The scheme is located on a key gateway into West Bromwich and is the first new office development of its kind in the town since the 1970s. The first class facility will accommodate up to 700 West Brom staff and plays a huge part in the regeneration of West Bromwich. Once completed, the building society will relocate from its current premises on nearby High Street where it has been based for more than 30 years. The landmark facility will encase a 500 tonne steel frame structure with precast slabs and terracotta tile panels. State of the art ventilation, heating and lighting control systems will be installed to minimise energy consumption. Since preconstruction stages Thomas Vale have worked closely with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to engage with local supply chain partners by hosting a Find if it Sandwell Breakfast Meeting where over 300 local business attended. In addition the contractor is working with the Think Local Recruitment Team, to advertise and recruit for a number of positions. The skyline of West Bromwich has altered significantly over the next 12 months. The town, which has been home to the society since its foundation in 1849, has benefited from new shops, restaurants and a cinema as part of the New Square development.

>>Architects impression of the new West Bromwich Building Society Headquarters, courtesy of Associated Architects

Innovative Passivhaus scheme short-listed for national awards


THOMAS Vales third Passivhaus scheme, Wilkinson Primary School has been shortlisted at this years Construction News Awards, in the Project of the Year under 10 million category. Construction News Awards are the biggest event in the construction calendar, which celebrate and recognise the best companies, projects, collaboration and innovation in our dynamic industry. Wilkinson Primary School is a new 8.2 million facility located in Bilston, Wolverhampton. It has been completely rebuilt after the original building was destroyed in a blaze back in October 2010. The staff and pupils have worked with the architect, Architype to develop an innovative and imaginative design that features classrooms and group rooms clustered around shared, central activity hubs, with the ground floor classrooms enjoying direct access to the outdoor areas, while large windows provide bright, well-lit spaces. This is the latest school in Wolverhampton to be built to Passivhaus standards, which reduces the amount of energy and heating needed through the design of the building. The building also signals a growth in the common use of the Passivhaus standard, which was specified in the clients brief, requiring this energy standard over the use of BREEAM. Under Wolverhampton Councils strict proviso that the Passivhaus schools should cost no more than standard schools, Thomas Vale delivered them both on budget, and early indications show outstanding performance and user comfort. Winners will be announced at the Construction News Awards on 17 July 2014 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

>>Craig Tatton (centre) takes the reins at Thomas Vale, part of one of the worlds largest industry groups, Bouygues Construction

Former-Willmott Dixon Boss takes the reins at Thomas Vale


BOUYGUES UK recently announced the appointment of Craig Tatton as the new Managing Director of Thomas Vale. Craig joined Bouygues UK recently and brings with him over 25 years experience of working in the UK construction sector. During this time, Craig has held a number of senior positions at businesses such as Laing, Miller, ISG and Willmott Dixon, operating across a number of regions within the country. In his role as Managing Director, Craig will take full responsibility for the day-to-day operation and future direction of the business. Craig brings with him a strong regional focus with a proven track record in operational and business management, operating at board level in strategic leadership roles. Tony Hyde, as Chairman of Thomas Vale, will continue to focus on client relationships and business development across both the private and public sectors to support the business. In addition, Tony will continue to focus on his wider Bouygues UK responsibilities as Corporate Responsibility Director. Speaking of his appointment, Craig Tatton added: Thomas Vale is a company which has been known to me for many years due to its award-winning projects and strong business ethos. I am very proud to have the opportunity now to build upon the solid foundations of Tonys leadership and I look forward to working together with our Bouygues UK colleagues to achieve our goals. My primary focus over the coming months is to enhance our service offering to our clients; focusing on the leadership, skills and experience of the Thomas Vale teams to drive business growth and re-position Thomas Vale at the forefront of industry leaders.

>>Wilkinson Primary School follows in the footsteps of the UKs rst accredited Passivhaus schemes Oakmeadow and Bushbury Hill, also constructed by Thomas Vale

Birmingham Post Business Awards 2013


People Development Willmott Dixon 4Life Academy

Investors In People - Gold Accreditation


Awarded 2014

Built In Quality Awards 2014


Winner - Leisure Category Tipton Leisure Centre

One of the largest privately owned First major contractor to implement Over 1m invested each year companies in the UK specialising in BIM 360 at 47m Canalside project in Research and Development construction, development and support with Birmingham City University Employing nearly 100 management services Carbon Neutral business trainees and 64 apprentices Over 1000 employees in the West (Carbon Trust standards) 2m invested each year Midlands with 100 new jobs created in on training staff the last year with plans to recruit 200 more across the region in 2014 linkedin.com/company/willmottdixon @willmottdixon www.willmottdixon.co.uk

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