UNDERSTANDING AND SOLVING PROBLEMS

We innovate to solve our clients' problems. In the first instance that requires a dialogue that provides a deep understanding of the problem. Subsequently we solve problems through collaboration with our clients, joint venture partners and the supply chain.

Innovation plays an important role in building long term relationships and creating additional value for our clients. Most of our innovation emanates from collaboration, with our clients, joint venture partners, supply chain and by means of internal collaboration across our businesses.

In 2014, we developed a unique local spend tool to track the amount of money we spend with local small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) in any geographic area within the UK. The tool enables us to capture valuable data for our clients to demonstrate the value we are adding to the local economy and helps them to track their SME spend.

Some of our innovations are informed by research work at several academic partner organisations, including Salford University (Building Information Model (BIM)), Bristol University (systems engineering), Liverpool John Moores (condition monitoring), Sheffield University (smart buildings), University College London (future leaders in infrastructure), Manchester (composite cross arms), and Loughborough University (accounting for whole life carbon emissions from highways maintenance contracts). Other innovations are powered internally via leveraging employee insights to tackle mega trends and existing efficiencies.

We are also running two projects funded by Innovate UK. One is in collaboration with Queens University Belfast and the University of West of England to devise a BIM tool that designers and contractors can use to successfully predict and reduce waste at the design phase. At present, no such tool exists. The other is working with technology start-up 3DRepo and the Association of Interior Specialists to support the development of a new innovative procurement application called Bid4Free. The aim of the application is to produce software that reduces the cost of bidding by digitizing transactions.

In the USA, we have supported Penn State University, Stanford University, the University of Colorado at Boulder, Virginia Tech, and the University of Texas at Austin by teaching students, and by helping to fund or guide research.

Other examples include the development of our Green Concrete range by Gammon in Hong Kong. We are the only supplier in Hong Kong to offer low carbon concrete solutions that are PAS 2050:2011 certified. We used 3d printing to develop roof designs at Midfield Airport and new visualisation software solutions in Singapore. We also created an award winning PPP financial scheme for a hospital in Canada that leverages an international first in raising green bonds.

We have also worked on the development of new smartphone/tablet apps such as a production, reporting and tracking app to accurately track man hours on projects, a Zero Harm app for tracking potential incidents on motorways with our joint venture partners Mott MacDonald, and a 3D game that scores individually ability to highlight potential worksite danger zones and risks.

However, our greatest opportunities are on our projects where are able to deliver savings and benefits for our clients through offering creative solutions. Our innovation champions across our businesses capture, share and promote innovation.

Our ability to collaborate has been enhanced by the growth in communities of practice, by the deployment of training in collaborative working practices and through our on-going Group wide accreditation to the standard BS11000 Collaborative Business Relationships.

Our case studies developed from around the business demonstrate exactly how we do this:

Using spend data to prove social performance, Services UK 0.2MB (http://www.balfourbeatty.com/assets/files/cms/CSM_Nov14_Using_spend_data_to_prove_social_perfor mance.pdf)

Sheffield University’s new engineering building: a laboratory in its own right 0.2MB (http://www.balfourbeatty.com/assets/files/cms/CSM_Oct14_SHEFFIELD_UNIVERSITYS_NEW_ENGINEERI NG_BUILDING__A_LABORATORY_IN_ITS_OWN_RIGHT.pdf)

Balfour Beatty Construction US takes top honours at Seattle AEC 0.4MB (http://www.balfourbeatty.com/assets/files/cms/CSM_Oct14_SHEFFIELD_UNIVERSITYS_NEW_ENGINEERI NG_BUILDING__A_LABORATORY_IN_ITS_OWN_RIGHT.pdf)

Reducing embodied carbon through Gammon Green Concrete 0.6MB (http://www.balfourbeatty.com/assets/files/cms/Reducing_embodied_carbon_through_Gammon_Green_ Concrete.pdf)

Graduate Innovation Prize Winner: Improving safety and saving carbon and cost 0.6 MB (http://www.balfourbeatty.com/assets/files/cms/Graduate_Innovation_prize_winner_2014___Improving_ safety_and_saving_carbon_and_cost.pdf)

London Underground Sleeper Redesign 0.1MB

JD7, UK Wide 0.1MB

King Sheet Piling, M25 0.6MB

Find out more about our sustainable innovation