THE VINCI CONSTRUCTION UK MAGAZINE SHARING EXPERIENCE, INNOVATION AND SUCCESS ISSUE 44 / NOVEMBER 2012

DELIVERING ESSENTIAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY CENTRE 02 BEYOND CONSTRUCTION HELP FOR HEROES 06 CONTENTS

02 CONTENTS 01 CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME 02 DELIVERING ESSENTIAL SERVICES — TECHNOLOGY CENTRE 06 FOCUS PROJECT — STREATHAM HUB 10 CHALLENGES — SPECIAL PROJECTS 14 NEWS ROUND-UP 18 INTERVIEW - ANDREW RIDLEY BARKER 20 EXPERTISE — VINCI FACILITIES AND THE ROYAL PARKS 22 BEYOND CONSTRUCTION — HELP FOR HEROES 25 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT DELIVERING ESSENTIAL SERVICES 27 OUR PEOPLE TECHNOLOGY CENTRE 29 AWARDS AND ACCREDITATIONS

06 CHALLENGES SPECIAL PROJECTS

FOCUS PROJECT STREATHAM HUB 10

CREDITS Editor Melanie Mathews, Communications Director, VINCI PLC [email protected] Copy Stratton Craig Design VINCI Construction UK Design Team

Cover image Dan O’Callaghan, Help for Heroes, Tedworth House (full story on p19-21) &%3

Communiqué Issue 44 CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME WELCOME TO THE LATEST EDITION OF COMMUNIQUÉ.

At VINCI Construction UK we differentiate ourselves by A summary of a supplement produced by Building magazine adding value in ways that go beyond pure construction. looks at the VINCI Construction UK Technology Centre and how this particular team of experts are helping clients to engage For example, as part of our Step UP health and safety initiative, with the issues of the day such as saving energy and improving the entire business paused for 20 minutes at 10am on the 6th productivity. September to reflect on health and safety matters. Across all our work locations, over 15,000 team members and subcontractors This issue’s focus project, Streatham Hub, demonstrates not shared ideas and experiences and areas of concern were aired only the extent of our technical skills on a challenging project, with the aim of continually improving health and safety. but also our ability to manage multiple stakeholders on a multi- faceted town centre development. In this issue of Communiqué there is an article which describes the work we are doing with the charity Help for Heroes to Finally, I re-iterate the fact that the success of our business provide the opportunity for an ex-serviceman to re-engage old cannot be achieved without the skill and dedication of our skills. This is a fantastic example of the culture of community people. I congratulate everyone who has gone the extra mile engagement that permeates our business under the banner of this year and made personal career progress through our Stand Out! Make a Difference and I hope that other projects and Academy’s integrated approach to learning and development. regions take encouragement and inspiration from this. The skills and expertise of our Special Projects team, particularly in the delivery of large projects with complex procurement routes, is showcased on pages 10-13. JohnJohn StanionStanion Chairman & Chief Executive VINCI PLC

Communiqué Issue 44 01 DELIVERING ESSENTIAL SERVICES — TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

HIGH IMPACT Discover a place where building materials are tested to their absolute limits. Communiqué Issue 44 03 DELIVERING ESSENTIAL SERVICES — TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

SOLUTIONS FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 01 As a hub of technical support and expertise, the VINCI Construction UK Technology Centre is one of the leading construction industry facilities of its kind in the world. Providing a range of testing and consultancy services, it helps companies cut costs, solve problems and maximise profitability. Located in the Bedfordshire countryside 30 miles north of London, the Technology Centre offers a wealth of cutting-edge laboratories and testing facilities. Over the years, all manner of industrial materials and structures have been tested, bent and broken on site in the pursuit of product safety and certification. Over and above this, in each of the core service areas, engineers and technicians use their expertise to devise innovative customer solutions, strategies and recommendations. The Technology Centre plays a key role in VINCI Construction UK’s commitment to drive innovation and reduce defects. Alternative methods of construction are showcased at the practical hands-on advice and expertise. We look at the overall Centre and over 20 Top Tips on the company’s intranet address sustainability requirements of projects that contractors are the four main areas of defects (cladding, concrete, screeds/ bidding for and give sustainability advice upfront at the tender coatings and roofs). stage, which will include BREEAM. Coming in at the very High-level consultancy beginning can help resolve technical problems early on and can make bids more competitive.” The teams at the Technology Centre undertake research and provide consultation to companies, government and the Unique testing capabilities European Union – particularly on sustainability. With a long- VINCI Construction UK has been providing compliance testing standing relationship with the Waste and Resources Action for over 50 years. Going back to the early days of development Programme (WRAP), the centre has played an extensive role in work in specialist concrete for nuclear power stations, the the national programme to halve the amount of waste going Technology Centre draws on decades of experience to deliver to landfill. It holds training workshops with SMEs on the truly unique lab-and field-testing capabilities. The team development of site waste management plans, and is currently provides acoustic performance testing, structural testing for working with WRAP to address broader resource efficiency moving machinery and nuclear safety assessments. They issues. The centre also recently helped the Liverpool Arena assess roll-over and falling-object driver protection systems reduce its annual energy consumption by 10% and enabled for construction plant, test building façades against typhoon another client to save hundreds of thousands of pounds by conditions, drop radioactive waste containers from tall cranes developing waste disposal methodologies for soil contamination. and heavy objects onto windows. “While we’re historically known for testing”, says Dr Russell Elsewhere, in one of the centre’s larger mock-up-and-trial Matthews, Technology Centre Director, “we also provide a range workshops, the team have constructed a full-size Crossrail of industry-leading consultancy services. Through innovation, platform model that is shaping the future of underground travel. research, cutting-edge technology and expertise, we focus on Crossrail is a £14.8 billion construction project to deliver a new, solving problems, maximising efficiencies and minimising costs high-frequency railway for London and the South East. In order for clients.” to create this transport legacy for London, it is essential that In the current economic climate, services that help clients every last fixture and component of the new stations are to lower their costs are critical. The Technology Centre’s fit-for-purpose, cost-effective and built to last. For this reason, sustainability team plays a key role in this area, providing the in 2010 the Technology Centre was appointed to deliver a full range of environmental tests and assessments, including full-size architectural model of a below-ground Crossrail BREEAM. As Bob Lewis, principal sustainability consultant, station platform. recently explained in interview: “The difference with our As Russell Matthews explains, the unique modelling and offer – and BREEAM is a good example of this – is that we simulation methods used on the Crossrail project “builds on the come very much from the perspective of a contractor, giving Centre’s rich history of large-scale tests and mock-ups going back to the 1960s.”

Communiqué Issue 44 04 DELIVERING ESSENTIAL SERVICES — TECHNOLOGY CENTRE

02

Diverse clients, rich history store in London. The capability includes design, installation and The Technology Centre prides itself not only on its diverse long-term monitoring. service offering, but on its diverse client base. Around 85% of the Building pathology Centre’s work comes from external clients – UK house-builders, Another key service on offer at the Technology Centre is contractors, European curtain walling firms, Middle Eastern building pathology which involves the close investigation of paint manufacturers and, of course, Crossrail. Many of these defects and problems. Addressing issues that arise during and clients come directly to the Centre, rather than through after project completion, the building pathology team conducts VINCI Construction UK or the wider VINCI Group. However, reactive and proactive investigation work, as well as system as Russell Matthews points out, “being part of a large and maintenance. These vital services help to extend the working reputable contractor is a major USP for the Technology Centre lives of buildings and ensure they are fit for purpose. and vice-versa. The broad network of expertise we can access definitely sets us apart, and means our methods and Often brought in to look after older buildings, such as car parks, recommendations are very practically focused. Almost every many of which were built under different construction codes, company PQQ or bid makes reference to the added value the the pathology team is constantly innovating to meet client Technology Centre can bring.” needs. For example, as many of the buildings they investigate are in use, the team uses infrared technology to locate internal The Technology Centre’s mix of technical excellence and floor heating systems and pipes. It also tries to anticipate and practical, cost-effective solutions is indeed a major attraction prevent future problems to deliver maximum added value for clients from both the UK and abroad. However it is also the – such as flooring surveys to pre-empt future repairs and strong heritage of innovation that appeals to customers. For remediation: ‘seeing through walls’, they call it, which is all example, the Technology Centre has nearly 30 years of UKAS about avoiding hidden costs and eliminating nasty surprises, accreditation, and was a founding member of the Centre for saving clients time and money in the long run. Window and Cladding Technology at Bath University. In 1986, it started to undertake cladding testing in the UK and is now the This, ultimately, is the Technology Centre’s raison d’être: largest external cladding and curtain wall test and inspection to deliver efficiency, quality and value for money through centre in Europe. As a result of years of experience in this field, technical know-how, practical solutions and expert consultancy. the Centre can process more than 20 samples simultaneously, with facilities which can test full-scale mock-up cladding systems for wind, water and impact resistance. Among other high-profile projects, the Centre recently tested cladding for the Olympic Velodrome and Heathrow’s Terminal 4.

Cathodic Protection (CP), an electro-chemical process for 01 preventing corrosion, was pioneered by the Technology Centre Dr. Russell Matthews, Technology Centre Director for its application in steel framed buildings, especially heritage 02 structures. A recent example of its application is the Selfridges Heathrow Terminal 4

Communiqué Issue 44 05 HUB OF EXPERTISE

In late 2011, VINCI Construction UK broke ground on an £81 million construction project for Tesco Stores in Streatham, on behalf of Spenhill Regeneration in partnership with the London Borough of Lambeth. Almost one year on and already the company has demonstrated its capabilities and skill in addressing the project’s many technical and logistical challenges. FOCUS PROJECT — STREATHAM HUB

Communiqué Issue 44 07 FOCUS PROJECT — STREATHAM HUB

THE CHALLENGES Leisure complexities Multi-faceted, multi-stakeholder From a construction perspective, the leisure centre presents The Streatham Hub development is located on the west side of numerous technical challenges. The new ice-rink, for example, Streatham High Road just south of Streatham Railway Station. was commissioned to be suspended above the swimming The 30-month construction programme is highly complex and pool – only the second ice-rink in the world to be built to this multi-faceted, comprising a new bus interchange, a 63,000 configuration. With the pool, changing facilities and offices square-foot Tesco Extra supermarket and 250 residential units, below all generating humidity and heat, the suspended rink plus a leisure centre complete with a 25-metre swimming has had to be designed in such a way as to resist excessive pool, a 1,000-seat ice rink arena and a health and fitness suite. deflection. Indeed, if the heat from below was to meet the cold Underground car parking is also required to service the leisure from above, it would cause drip-water and slab deflection, centre, apartments and retail store. potentially damaging the ice rink. To complicate matters further, the programme calls for road- To install a pool and rink simultaneously under one roof is a widening and improvements on the adjacent A23. These are big enough task in itself – but to suspend one above the other being carried out by Eurovia, a VINCI company. The project also requires ingenuity and skill. surrounds the Grade II listed Streatham United Reform Church Service diversions and children’s centre. The site team have been very keen to On a project of this size, scope and location, utility services are ensure that the church and nursery are able to continue their always likely to be an issue and, sure enough, running right day to day activities irrespective of the major construction through the site adjacent to one another was a high voltage works progressing around them. electrical power supply and two major sewers. The power This town-centre development has many diverse and supply had to be kept live while it was being re-routed. Once interconnected elements. For example, the project is bordered this was completed, the major sewage pipes had to be diverted by a major road and railway line coming into Streatham Station, and kept operational until their replacements could be installed. and Transport for London and Network Rail have been involved Any disruption or damage to these services would have had from the outset. The neighbourhood is also largely residential, a huge impact on the surrounding neighbourhood, and and the team has had to consider the people living around the managing this risk has formed an integral part of the project’s site. Balancing the needs and wishes of all these stakeholders overall success. has been a defining challenge of the project.

01

Communiqué Issue 44 08 FOCUS PROJECT — STREATHAM HUB

THE SOLUTIONS 02

Communication, consultation, coordination Given the proximity of the surrounding residents and other key stakeholders, it has been essential for VINCI Construction UK to keep disturbance to a minimum. To do this, the team has set up monitoring stations around the site to record vibration and noise. This service, delivered by another VINCI company, SolData, enables project management to assess disturbance levels and deliver swift rectification where necessary. The project team has also conducted extensive consultation with the local community enabling people to ask questions, raise concerns, and hear how work is progressing. In addition, VINCI Construction UK representatives have been using internally developed 4D Business Information Modelling (BIM) technology to show stakeholders how the scheme will develop and what The Hub will finally look like. This serves as a great engagement tool and really brings the project to life. Additionally, a Streatham Hub website and bi-monthly newsletter provide up-to-date information, while leaflets avoid any disruption to the electricity supply and sewers. Using are distributed to announce any potentially disruptive extensive pile caps and beams, they worked around and over the developments, such as the erection of a tower-crane. As with existing services until they could be replaced with new ones. most of VINCI Construction UK’s major programmes, the From a design and logistics perspective, this was an enormous Streatham Hub development has been registered with the undertaking and required careful sequencing of activities. Considerate Constructors Scheme, and is being audited twice a year with scores to date exceeding compliance. There are still challenges to be overcome before the project is completed in early 2014, but based on progress to date, there Temperature control will be a major new Leisure Centre and retail store in operation To tackle the issue of the suspended ice rink, the project team next year. commissioned a lot of upfront design and have brought in a Canadian contractor, CIMCO, the biggest ice-rink specialists in PROJECT PERSPECTIVES the world. They will use expert mechanical methods to cool the air above the pool and insulate the slab. This will be done to “The Tesco Streatham Hub project required a contractor whose abilities were commensurate with the challenges of the project. VINCI ensure that the cold from the ice will not mix with the warm Construction UK’s technical know-how and innovative approach to air and cause condensation or movement. design has meant that sound technical solutions were found to overcome the The structural challenge of suspending the ice rink involves challenges, and this has enabled the project to stay on target.” getting the tolerances absolutely right, because even the Andrew Boyle, Development Project Manager, slightest deflection would cause the ice to crack. To this end, Property Acquisitions, Tesco Stores Limited the project team are using another VINCI company, Freyssinet, “The Streatham Hub project has really demonstrated the strength of who worked with structural engineers, Halcrow Yolles, to our internal synergies; there have been a number of VINCI companies deliver a slab of perfect thickness and composition. Teamwork working on this project, and from demolition to piling and construction, is critical, and the design, build and installation of the rink through to final retail fit-out, our combined expertise is being applied involves an alliance of engineers, service specialists and every step of the way. Michael Aukett architects. There has also been a strong community element to this project. As well as offering work experience and training, we are trying to open up Keeping things moving employment opportunities with our subcontractors.” The key to minimising disruption to local stakeholders was Geoff Cheek, Construction Director, VINCI Construction UK, to introduce phasing which would allow construction to be Building Division - South undertaken while maintaining the existing neighbourhood facilities at all times. VINCI Construction UK constructed a temporary bus stand in the centre of the site that allowed buses to move out of the old station, which was then demolished. 01 Tesco has constructed a temporary ice rink in Brixton, to allow Through Budding Brunels and the Construction Youth Trust, local young people skating to continue until the new rink is completed in late 2013. are being given work experience and some longer-term training schemes.

Regarding the service diversions, the team devised expert 02 piling solutions with VINCI company, Bachy Soletanche, to Geoff Cheek, Construction Director, VINCI Construction UK, Building Division - South.

Communiqué Issue 44 09 CHALLENGES — SPECIAL PROJECTS MAKING IT HAPPEN

In order to succeed in this challenging economic climate, construction companies require special teams made up of special people equipped with special skills. VINCI Construction UK Special Projects is exactly that – a team experienced in winning large, complex contracts and bringing major projects to fruition.

Sheffield Building Schools for the Future (BSF) Newfields/Talbot Communiqué Issue 44 011 CHALLENGES — SPECIAL PROJECTS

VINCI Construction UK Special Projects was set up in “We focus on winning work – that’s our primary aim”, says 2007 to complement the regional capability of the Building Paul Neto. “In these tough economic times, our job is to bring Division. Dealing exclusively with front-end procurement, in big complex projects and larger framework schemes. Special Projects focuses on projects which require These programmes are often country-wide, which means funding and investment, schemes over £100 million and we can spread the economic gains throughout our regional major national frameworks with annual spend in excess business units.” of £50 million. As these schemes progress through their With current high demand for healthcare and education procurement cycle, Special Projects will involve the schemes, Special Projects procures work through national company’s regional businesses to ensure that the local private and public sector schemes, such as Circle, ProCure 21+ knowledge of suppliers, consultants, community issues and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) frameworks. ProCure 21+ and and client drivers are integrated into the offer. On project the MoJ projects have been particularly successful for VINCI award, the regional business will then deliver the project Construction UK in recent years. What’s more, the pipeline of at a local level. work in these areas is extremely buoyant, and Paul Neto and his team have every reason to be optimistic looking ahead. “Despite ongoing sector cuts and constraints, opportunities 01 keep coming up”, observes Paul, “especially in the health sector where we spread our bids across public and private. For example, when it comes to our work for private healthcare facilities developers, we can adapt our bid work to areas of increasing opportunity, like social and extra care projects.” Through the work of Special Projects, VINCI Construction UK has become the only contractor on all four of the MoJ frameworks, and the company’s reputation on ProCure 21+ is now very well established – particularly in the North where the blend of opportunities versus available experienced regional resources has resulted in multiple projects.

Collective experience, local expertise The key to the team’s success lies in its make-up of skilled work winners who can draw on past experience to unlock potential and demonstrate VINCI Construction UK’s breadth and depth of capabilities. As Paul Neto explains, “in any business sector, the ability to build on the success of a previous project, and carry this experience into the next job, is absolutely critical.” For example, Special Projects uses the successful completion In the last five years, the work of Special Projects has reinforced of Project MoDEL at RAF Northolt as a showcase for procuring the company’s reputation as an enabler within the industry, similar projects going forward. the ultimate benefit being its significant contribution to VINCI Construction UK’s order book and balance sheet. As Special “This kind of approach”, says Paul Neto, “combined with the Projects Managing Director Paul Neto explains, the presence use of our Technology Centre, demonstrates that we can work and approach of the team “demonstrates to the market that in collaborative teams but with a single, unified mind-set, VINCI Construction UK has the skills to innovate, add value and while at the same time being innovative and technologically work collaboratively to deliver exceptional results.” forward thinking.” The Special Projects criteria have evolved from major project Local expertise is also vital. As the procurement process gathers opportunities that require long-term involvement during the momentum, the Special Projects team engage their regional procurement process, often in instances where the regional colleagues to gain valuable local input. “This ensures that at business units cannot commit to resourcing such extensive the point of contract award the core members of the delivery requirements. The team’s role and remit has also been team are fully involved with the project requirements and client shaped by the need for cross-business support with relationships are well established,” says Paul Neto. facilities management.

Communiqué Issue 44 012 CHALLENGES — SPECIAL PROJECTS

Additionally, Special Projects can draw on local teams’ Through its commitment to continuous improvement through contacts and knowledge to scope out potential projects early the schools programmes, Special Projects has been able to on. “As much as we’ll be talking to clients and consultants,” build on lessons learnt, assess the good and the bad, and fully says Paul, “the regions will be feeding in. They will be having understand what works and what is affordable. Furthermore, conversations with local clients and may identify opportunities following the James Review on education, the team has that Special Projects can help bring to fruition.” taken on board recommendations for design standardisation and reduced build times. It has also taken into account the Government Construction Strategy for a 15-20% saving on build The Priority Schools Building Programme costs, and has assembled a tool box of solutions which, as Tim The Sheffield Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, Riley explains, “can be applied across the varying range of delivered by VINCI Construction UK from July 2007 until the educational facilities while addressing the componentisation of end of 2013, is widely recognised as one of the most successful building elements.” BSFs in the country. This project has provided the ideal platform from which to prepare for the Priority Schools Building Programme (PSBP), which is currently being developed by the Cross fertilisation Education Funding Agency on behalf of the Coalition ready for Bringing past project experience to bear on future work, and tender towards the end of 2012. drawing on the technical expertise within VINCI Construction UK and the wider VINCI Group, Special Projects embodies As an example of the joined-up approach taken by Special the company’s ethos of synergy and collaboration. The cross- Projects, Tim Riley, the LEP lead on Sheffield BSF, is now fertilisation of ideas and skills is certainly central to the team’s collaborating with Paul Neto and his team on PSBP. “It’s a very work, and leads to a distinct competitive advantage in the logical step”, says Tim. “Those of us with experience of Sheffield procurement of major projects. BSF have come across to share our knowledge and expertise to help make the PSBP project a success. They’re comparable “We are strongest when we are as one”, says Paul Neto, who schemes and hopefully our track record in Sheffield will stand believes that the unit’s collaborative approach is evidence of us in good stead.” an ability to “embrace technology, new ideas, new products and new methods in our search for service excellence. We continuously demonstrate to our clients that we have a team of 02 people who have the necessary skills and a worldwide business to support their objectives. And it’s this, in my opinion, which sets us apart from the rest.”

01 Paul Neto, Special Projects Managing Director

02 VINCI Construction UK is committed to making a positive contribution to the communities in which it works. The company has been the main sponsor of Sheffield Children’s Festival for six consecutive years. Now in its twentieth year, this annual event brings together children, families and the community through participation in the arts, music and dance.

Communiqué Issue 44 013 NEWS ROUND-UP

KING EDWARD VII UNIVERSITY OF YORK SCHOOL, SHEFFIELD LEISURE The University of York has awarded a Former Premiership referee, Uriah £6m contract to VINCI Construction Rennie, has officially opened the sports UK for the design and construction DONCASTER facility at King Edward VII School in of a new undergraduate teaching and PERFORMANCE VENUE Sheffield. The £18m contract included the green chemistry research building. adaptation and extensive refurbishment The facilities are part of a £29m phased Completion of the structural steel frame of the existing building. investment which includes new has marked a significant milestone in research and undergraduate laboratories. the construction of Doncaster’s £20m Completion is scheduled for late 2013 and performance venue. The 5,250m2 facility The new STEM Centre at the same aims to further enhance the reputation will provide a landmark for Doncaster school has also been officially opened of the Department of Chemistry, which and will be a key feature in the eight weeks ahead of programme by is ranked in the top five of the Times and development of the town’s new civic and Dr Karl Gehring and Mr John Cornwell, Guardian University guides for 2013. cultural quarter. both school Governors, former Chairs of Governors and authors of ‘A School for STONEHENGE the Future’. VINCI Construction UK has won a £12.6m FOUR OAKS PRIMARY HEALTHCARE contract for the construction of visitor SCHOOL, LIVERPOOL facilities at UNESCO World Heritage Site, INTEGRATED HEALTH Stonehenge, including a new exhibition VINCI Construction UK has successfully and education centre. As part of a wider handed over Four Oaks Primary School, PROJECTS £27m project, the new facility will be a new two-storey building which forms Integrated Health Projects (IHP), the joint located 1.5 miles from the stones and part of a £7.3m brownfield regeneration venture between VINCI Construction UK the existing car park will be returned project. and Sir Robert McAlpine, has been to grass. awarded further contracts totalling over COVENTRY UNIVERSITY £30m with the following NHS Trusts:  Countess of Chester Hospital NHS A new building for the Faculty of Foundation Trust Engineering and Computing has opened to its first intake of students at Coventry  The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University. The iconic building is part of University Hospitals NHS Trust a large scale redevelopment plan for the  NHS Somerset city centre campus.  Stockport NHS Trust A series of imaginative learning spaces, flexible laboratories, classrooms and lecture theatres have been brought under EDUCATION one roof. The £28.38m building was also designed to accommodate a Harrier Jump PARKWOOD ACADEMY, Jet and a Scout military helicopter to aid SHEFFIELD students in their studies. VINCI Construction UK has completed a £20m contract for the design and construction of a three-storey school IHP has completed the first and largest building in Sheffield. The fully phase of St Catherine’s Community operational Parkwood Academy, which Hospital in Birkenhead including specialises in arts, languages and sports, demolition to the old Victorian Building provides a modern learning facility with and the construction of a new state-of- contemporary student and community the-art four-storey, 10,000m2 community classrooms along with a learning hospital. The project has an overall resource centre to support teachers value of £26m and will be completed and students. in May 2013.

Communiqué Issue 44 014 NEWS ROUND-UP

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, AINTREE UNIVERSITY RECYCLING FACILITY, COVENTRY HOSPITAL, LIVERPOOL WATERBEACH VINCI Facilities has been awarded A new link bridge at Aintree University A major milestone has been reached a PFI contract worth approximately Hospital has officially opened for use. in the construction of a new materials £7.9m per annum by The Coventry and The £2m project will allow the rapid recycling facility at AmeyCespa’s Rugby Hospital Company plc. The 30 transfer of the most seriously ill patients Waterbeach site in Cambridgeshire. The year contract, valued at £370m, will see from the Accident and Emergency building will contain high specification VINCI Facilities carry out a wide range of department to head and spinal injury sorting equipment, used to separate services including planned preventative specialists at The Walton Centre. mixed materials and therefore enable and reactive maintenance, internal and Spanning 63 metres and weighing in at recycling. Work on the project began external building fabric maintenance, 65 tonnes, the bridge was designed and in February and is scheduled for energy management and equipment constructed by VINCI Construction UK completion by the end of the year. installation. The contract covers both and completed within seven months. University Hospital Coventry and the Hospital of St Cross Rugby. NUCLEAR JOINT VENTURE WYCOMBE HOSPITAL ENERGY VINCI Construction UK and nuclear BREAST SCREENING specialists Nuvia have formed a joint UNIT venture, VNS, for work on nuclear HYDRO-ELECTRIC decommissioning contracts. Buckinghamshire NHS Trust has POWER STATION, appointed VINCI Construction UK on MAENTWROG The combination of Nuvia’s design a £2m project for Wycombe Hospital specialisms and VINCI Construction The Technology Centre has completed a in Buckinghamshire. The first phase UK’s project management expertise will surveillance of rock anchors at Magnox’s involves the construction of an extension enable the group to bid for large value Maentwrog Hydro-Electric Power Station to the existing breast screening unit contracts, particularly for clients such as in the Snowdonia National Park. The and a connecting bridge to the modular Sellafield Ltd. building. Refurbishment of a department contract included inspection, cleaning, adjacent to the breast screening ward load checking and re-installation also forms part of the contract. of anchorage.

CHESTERFIELD ENERGY FROM WASTE TRANSPORT NUFFIELD HOSPITAL, Preferred bidder status has been secured NOTTINGHAM HUB BRISTOL for the construction of three energy- An eye catching, abstract exterior made Nuffield Health have awarded an from-waste plants across the UK. of vertical copper panels has been £11m contract for the design and applied to a multi-storey car park at construction of a new hospital With a combined total of £420m, Nottingham Railway Station. The 950 building to include specialist imaging the projects will be completed on space car park forms part of the £431m facilities, three operating theatres, behalf of Cornwall County Council, Nottingham Hub infrastructure project patient accommodation and outpatient North Yorkshire County Council and which links the Nottingham tram, services. The contract also includes Hertfordshire County Council. Nottingham Express Transit (NET), the refurbishment of a Grade II listed and Nottingham Station to form a new Georgian villa to provide administration central transport hub within the city. and conference facilities.

HARROGATE DISTRICT HOSPITAL Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has taken possession of a new 191 space car park at Harrogate District Hospital. The project, worth £1.6m, also included the reconfiguration of the building’s existing ground floor level.

Communiqué Issue 44 015 NEWS ROUND-UP

WHITECHAPEL Two of the largest cranes in the UK have been procured as part of the £22.5m COMMERCIAL REGENERATION Whitechapel redevelopment contract for Whitechapel Station in East London. WATER REALITY COASTAL HOUSING The units will commence work in HOLDINGS GROUP, SOUTH WALES February 2013, both playing a key role in the removal of rail bridges, platform VINCI Construction UK is underway with Social landlord, Coastal Housing Group, canopies and footbridges, as well as the a £32.6m design and construction project has appointed VINCI Construction UK installation of over 1,200 tonnes of steel. on behalf of Water Reality Holdings. Four onto its Contractors Framework as separate sites across the North West will part of a regeneration programme in be combined through the creation of the South Wales. three-storey headquarters in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Incorporating innovative The framework, worth up to £60m, environmental features, the contract will will focus on the Swansea and Neath also involve the construction of roads, car Port Talbot areas and is expected to parks and external landscaping. comprise new build housing, with the potential to include homes, doctors’ surgeries and other community buildings. VICTORIA STATION NEWEDGE OFFICES UPGRADE VINCI Facilities has won a contract to provide facilities management at The upgrading of Victoria Station has the offices of London brokerage firm made good progress despite certain Newedge UK Financial Ltd. INFRASTRUCTURE works being suspended during the Olympic Embargo Period. Piling to the The three year contract will include HEATHROW AIRPORT western perimeter of the north ticket hall M&E, cleaning and hospitality as well is largely complete, as is piling within as running the helpdesk, reception, The Building Division has been awarded a new passenger link. The northern switchboard and post room services. a £4m contract for the design and ticket hall opens in 2016 and is just one construction of a building to enclose the part of a huge project designed to ease baggage facility within Terminal 4. The congestion and improve station access. contract was awarded in recognition of an alternative design solution which LANDMARK BUS PUBLIC SECTOR provides cost effective replacement of the TERMINAL, existing temporary structure. MID-SUFFOLK DISTRICT STOKE-ON-TRENT GATWICK AIRPORT A significant milestone has been reached COUNCIL in the construction of the landmark bus Mid-Suffolk District Council has awarded Three further contracts, worth a station in Stoke-on-Trent city centre, a 12 week contract to VINCI Facilities combined value of £13.5m, have been with completion of the 240 tonne steel for the provision of water hygiene signed as part of a long-standing frame. Forming the first phase of the works. Plumbing service upgrades will relationship with Gatwick Airport £350m regional shopping centre, City take place over several council owned Limited. Sentral, the unusual curved design is buildings to ensure compliance with Part of the airport’s modernisation the vision of the international award- legionella regulations. winning architect Grimshaw, designers programme, the contracts involve of the Eden Project in Cornwall and a departure lounge upgrade in the the International Terminal at London’s North Terminal, a new A380 stand and Waterloo station. the relocation of an existing Airfield Operations facility.

Communiqué Issue 44 016 NEWS ROUND-UP

RETAIL MIXED USE INTERNATIONAL TESCO THE MARQUE, SAUDI ARABIAN A long-term relationship with key CAMBRIDGE NATIONAL WATER account, Tesco, has led to the completion Construction has begun on a £22.3m COMPANY of over 200 contracts with a total value project in the centre of Cambridge. The VINCI Construction UK, in a joint venture in excess of £1bn. Recent contract wins high-profile development includes the with Al Muhaidib Contracting Company include the build and fit-out of a store construction of 134 flats and a series (AMC), has been awarded two separate in Hednesford and the conversion of a of retail units. Located in a prominent contracts in Jeddah by the Saudi Arabian public house into a Tesco Express position, the project has been designed National Water Company. The contracts in Summerstown. to improve residential capacity in the have a combined value of over £110m historic city. A £27m ambient distribution centre in and are for the design and build of the Reading has been handed over on time Briman Strategic Water Reservoir and the and to budget, providing the retailer with Al Khumra Lifting Station. one of the largest such facilities in the UK.

SENIOR APPOINTMENTS DAVE SMITH, MANAGING DIRECTOR BUILDING DIVISION - SOUTH Dave Smith has been appointed Managing Director of Building Division – South. He joined the company in August from Galliford Try, where he worked for the past 27 years, most recently as Managing Director of the South and Interiors business unit. Dave’s knowledge and experience is closely aligned with our strategy of increasing our market share and profile in London and the South where we already have a strong base for future growth.

With experience of delivering major projects in the London and South East regions, Dave brings with him a strong reputation and wealth of expertise in this area.

Communiqué Issue 44 017 INTERVIEW — ANDREW RIDLEY BARKER TAKING THE INITIATIVE

As part of its 2013 business plan, VINCI Construction UK is implementing a range of new initiatives and programmes. Here, Managing Director Andrew Ridley-Barker gives an overview of progress to date, and highlights how each and every employee can play their part.

There is currently a great deal going on within VINCI Construction UK as part of our efforts to improve the company. Given the challenging economic climate in which we are operating, we have put a number of measures in place to make VINCI Construction UK as fast, efficient and effective as possible.

Collaboration Making the most of synergies within the VINCI Group is By definition, a Key Account is one that will make a a strategic priority which distinguishes us from many of significant long-term contribution to our business. More our competitors. It’s an approach that is being strongly often than not, it involves a customer that is looking for a endorsed at VINCI Construction UK, where connectivity and long-term strategic partnership. Because these customers collaboration are essential to our business plan. are very important to us, we have now assigned a dedicated manager to each account. Providing a single point of contact, Through technology transfer and knowledge sharing, we these Key Account Managers have been selected to ensure are collaborating more and more to secure competitive each customer’s needs are fully understood and met. They advantage. In particular, we are looking at how we can monitor progress and ensure top-quality service, helping draw on the wider technical skills and expertise of our us to harness these customers’ potential and increase the global group to benefit UK operations. For example, we volume of work we receive from them. collaborate on building work, in facilities and very heavily in civil engineering. But often the collaboration is more In 2011/12, our Key Accounts included Amber Solutions for transactional. What we’re trying to do now is move this Care, BNP Paribas Real Estate, HPL, London Underground, collaboration further up the value chain, so that we’re Ministry of Justice, Network Rail, Sellafield Ltd, St Modwen, working with Group contractors much more closely during Tesco, UPP Ltd and Veolia. preconstruction phases. Knowledge sharing By engaging other Group companies at more strategic Improving our internal knowledge-sharing capabilities is junctures, we want to be able to present single, global another key aspect of our business plan. Due to the fact that solutions to our clients. Collaboration within the Group we have separate divisions, regions and sub-regions the presents a great opportunity to make VINCI Construction UK flow of information around the business can be difficult. – and all other VINCI companies – stronger, putting us in a In the past this has led to unnecessary duplication of effort good position to tackle projects of increasing complexity whereas, in reality, challenges arising in one division can be and scale. easily met through the application of knowledge that exists in another. We want to avoid our teams investing time and Key Accounts money trying to fix a problem, only to find there’s a ready- A significant amount of our activity is with a selectively made solution in another part of the company. small number of repeat customers. In order to maximise our relationships with these customers, we have recently implemented a Key Account programme.

Communiqué Issue 44 018 INTERVIEW — ANDREW RIDLEY BARKER

To reduce the inefficiencies and waste these scenarios can these improvements is through training, development and create, in the last year we have set out to implement an mentoring. We have spent more on training this year than innovative internal collaboration programme. The aim of last and we will increase the level of training spend in our this initiative is to provide a platform for knowledge sharing, budget for next year. Even in these tough times, we want to dialogue and debate between the divisions and regions. We invest in our teams to develop their skills and improve the are currently identifying the best IT platform for delivery of overall performance of the company. the programme.

Zero defects The smallest of project defects can have a huge impact on a company’s bottom line and of course its reputation. Customers don’t want faults in their buildings, and a zero defects approach holds enormous value for our brand and customer relationships. For this reason, we have set up an initiative to minimise the number of defects that arise during a contract and subsequent to project completion. This is a very important piece of work, and one which the whole company should endorse and support 100%.

Health and Safety Health and Safety remains of upmost importance to VINCI Construction UK and we recognise the need to continually Community involvement improve our performance. In 2011 we reduced our ratio Along with collaboration, innovation and internationalisation, of accidents per 100,000 hours worked. However, this has community involvement is one of our company’s guiding worsened recently and, although the vast majority were principles. Making a difference through community action in minor, this is clearly not good enough and needs to be the areas where we live and work is critical to our identity as urgently addressed. an organisation. As you can read in the Community section of this edition of Communiqué, we are engaged in a range Under the banner of our Step UP programme, on September of social, environmental and philanthropic activities. On 6th we held a Health and Safety day across every project, pages 22-24 you can find out all about our work with Help for Heroes and read a powerful personal story from Dan O’Callaghan, a former soldier who has found new purpose and direction on one of our sites. I know that customers see our community involvement as a major differentiator – particularly during a project’s construction phase. Be it through charity functions, job creation or community engagement, our work in this area reflects well on clients and helps to create a positive legacy for them and us.

operation and office in the company. This involved coordinated briefings, workshops and discussions, during which every member of staff downed tools and took time to reflect on Health and Safety. Encompassing around 15,000 people, including all our subcontractors and suppliers, the initiative was very well received and will be repeated next year to reinforce the safety message.

Training Having the best people in the business is very important to us. Raising the calibre, quality and capability of our teams is crucial if we are to be faster, more efficient and more profitable in the years ahead. The way we intend to achieve

Communiqué Issue 44 019 EXPERTISE — VINCI FACILITIES AND THE ROYAL PARKS EXPERTISE: VINCI FACILITIES AND THE ROYAL PARKS

Since 2007, VINCI Facilities has been working in partnership with The Royal Parks. Delivering a range of services, the VINCI Facilities team carries out vital maintenance and restoration work and implements strict cost controls. Their success has not only led to a two-year contract extension, but to a meeting with Her Majesty The Queen.

It’s not every day that a facilities management (FM) or the Jubilee Celebrations. We are asked to carry out some company is called in to de-silt a lake, restore a Grade I Listed relatively major projects as well. A typical example would be the monument or stabilise a bronze fountain relief. But since installation of heavy piling on the banks of the Longford River.” signing a contract with The Royal Parks over five years ago, This challenging mix of tasks has kept the team busy – this is exactly what VINCI Facilities has been doing. particularly during 2012, when Tony and his staff supported The Covering Hyde Park, Richmond Park, Regent’s Park, Kensington Royal Parks with preparatory works for the London Organising Gardens, Greenwich Park, St James’s Park, Bushy Park, Green Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Park and Brompton Cemetery, VINCI Facilities is engaged in a “We performed a secondary role in assisting The Royal Parks” comprehensive maintenance regime of around 37,000 assets. says Tony, “but a critical one nonetheless; it involved being These assets range from fountains to statues to special features, reactive, often at short notice, across many of the parks including royal memorials and 200 year-old heritage gates. including Greenwich, Hyde Park and St James Park where key “We also get involved in event support” explains Tony Girvan, events where staged.” Director of Technical Services at VINCI Facilities. “For example, the Trooping the Colour ceremony for the Queen’s Birthday,

Communiqué Issue 44 020 EXPERTISE — VINCI FACILITIES AND THE ROYAL PARKS

Heritage and restoration Value for money, partnership and trust By far the most challenging aspect of the contract, however, has Another key aspect of the VINCI Facilities’ work for The Royal been the refurbishment of the parks’ historic features. These jobs Parks involves the close management of budgets. As Tony involve intricate stonework cleaning, statue repair and specialist Girvan points out, this function is critical in delivering long- heritage techniques, such as plaster restoration and gilding. term success and building a stable working relationship: As part of this package of work, in late 2011 VINCI Facilities “Since contract commencement we have carefully managed The completed the restoration of the Queen Victoria Memorial. The Royal Parks’ budget and implemented rigorous cost controls. Grade I Listed monument and fountains are located in front This has enabled the client to have confidence in meeting its of Buckingham Palace, and the restoration coincided with the annual spend, and provided reassurance that strict National centenary of its unveiling in 1911. Audit criteria for financial transparency have been adhered to.” The memorial works project was awarded to Stonewest, a traditional Against the backdrop of budgetary constraints and workforce stone repair specialist and VINCI Facilities subcontractor, with reductions across all sectors, VINCI Facilities has had to deploy the first phase of the work completed at the end of March 2011 in prudence and flexibility in its management of The Royal Parks time for the Royal wedding. This phase concentrated on the six projects. But whatever the task, each year the team has helped main bronze sculptures surrounding the central statue of Queen deliver projects in an efficient manner. Victoria, and the six bronze fountain reliefs. The trust that has been forged through this responsible financial “This is a very high-profile monument and the project completion stewardship has been further enhanced by the team’s dedication tied in with the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to collaborative working. In the five years of involvement probably the most high profile event in the UK that year. We had with The Royal Parks, VINCI Facilities has developed “a true to get it right; the restoration had to be of exceptional quality, and partnership approach” to all projects, consulting regularly with the work had to be delivered on budget and on time.” the client to ensure excellent delivery that meets all heritage, On the technical side, the work involved complex cleaning and health and safety and environmental requirements. stabilisation of active corrosion, patination to return the bronzes “It’s been a very positive working relationship”, says Tony to their correct colour, and waxing to provide protection. The Girvan, “and with our recent two-year contract extension, it’s a marble pedestals and walls surrounding the fountain bowls also relationship that we hope to continue long into the future.” had to be cleaned. In order to meet the project deadline and allow the works to continue unhindered during wet weather, each of the six main bronze statues were surrounded with a timber hoarding and a corrugated PVC roof. Account Manager, Mike Leigh, explains “The clear PVC roof was selected to let natural light in and keep rainwater out. The hoarding, meanwhile, was used to protect the public during cleaning. The cleaning process can generate a fair amount of dust from the removal of corrosion and old wax coatings, and it was important this didn’t affect the public.” The second phase of the monument restoration was completed in November 2011. This work included the cleaning and re-pointing As part of its role as maintenance contractor for The Royal of the central statue of Queen Victoria and the surrounding Parks, VINCI Facilities helped with preparations for the Queen’s pedestal. The team also fixed a new marble statuette of St George Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Prior to the Jubilee weekend, the to the orb in Queen Victoria’s hand, softened previous repairs to Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited the Queen’s her nose and fingers to improve her appearance, and re-gilded childhood home at Holly Lodge, Richmond Park. In preparation, the statue of Victory and its attendant cherubs. VINCI Facilities constructed and installed a green oak plinth for a newly-planted tree plaque which the Queen unveiled to The project Conservation Officer from English Heritage commemorate her 60 years on the throne. VINCI Facilities also commended the work, remarking that “the memorial is refurbished the signing room where the Queen entered her stunning... everyone involved in the project should be very signature in the Holly Lodge visitor’s book. Other responsibilities during the Jubilee celebrations included removing event proud of their involvement.” infrastructure from around the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace, and installing a 4m x 2.5m floral crown near the fountain inside St James’ Park. The five-tonne crown took five weeks to build, and featured 13,500 plants supported by a steel frame.

Communiqué Issue 44 021 BEYOND CONSTRUCTION — HELP FOR HEROES BEYOND CONSTRUCTION: HELP FOR HEROES

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Dan O’Callaghan served in the British Army for four years. He was due to be medically discharged in 2011 and was sent to the Personnel Recovery Centre at Tedworth House in Wiltshire, which is run by the charity Help for Heroes in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion.

As his Individual Recovery Programme (IRP) came to an end, Dan faced the new challenge of returning to Civvy Street. But as luck would have it, VINCI Construction UK, the main contractor on the Help for Heroes’ site, offered Dan the chance to re-engage old skills and get back on his feet.

Communiqué Magazine spoke with Dan and asked him how it all happened.

What is VINCI Construction UK doing at Tedworth House, and how long have you been involved? VINCI Construction UK is carrying out a £20 million capital I’ve been working here since January 2012. Previously, I’d been works project, including renovation of a Grade 2* listed in Germany as part of a tank unit for several years, including a building and construction of a new wing here at Tedworth year-long period of sick leave. Basically, a lot of personal stuff House. Help for Heroes leases the house and grounds from the happened, and I was sent here for recovery in September 2011. I Ministry of Defence to provide support for wounded, injured stayed for four months, and just as I was about to be discharged and sick soldiers and veterans, and VINCI Construction UK are the staff arranged for me to have an interview with the VINCI generously supporting the project and installing state-of-the-art Construction UK team next door. facilities while we restore the old building.

Communiqué Issue 44 022 BEYOND CONSTRUCTION — HELP FOR HEROES

They’d found out that I was a qualified bricklayer from my What about the technical side of things and returning to a days before the Army, and I’d already done my IRP course with working routine? Help for Heroes, which helps you with interview skills and CV The Army’s 24/7 and you get used to that. But I’d had a long writing and builds your confidence. So, I was well prepared, time off – particularly when I was home on leave. I’d spent a lot but it was amazing – within a week I had a full time job as of time sitting around drinking tea and watching Jeremy Kyle a bricklayer on the Tedworth House site. I got my discharge on telly. So, yeah, I was a bit apprehensive about going back to papers; they took me on and said, ‘Let’s see what you can do’. work. But actually it’s not been as bad as I thought it would be The staff at Tedworth House were also able to arrange some in terms of putting in the hours. accommodation for me in the local area. As far as the bricklaying goes – well, I qualified when I was What were the main challenges you faced coming onto the site? younger, but I didn’t have much experience. I could lay bricks, Being in the Army for four or five years, and then becoming a but that was about it. On this site, with an old building like civvy again – it was difficult. Before I joined the Army, I was this, there are a lot of different brick skills you need, with all young and I did some silly things. It was either one way or the the different sills and headers and heritage features. It’s a nice other for me. So I chose the Army and it sorted me out. But then fancy building, and dealing with all this has made me a lot I was unwell, and leaving the Army and coming to civvy street – more confident. I’ve learnt loads I didn’t know before – like how I didn’t think I could cope. I don’t know why. I just wasn’t ready to read architects’ drawings, how to make sure everything’s for it. I think it’s partly to do with how well supported you are in correct with the windows and doors. There’s a lot you wouldn’t the Army and by Help for Heroes; the thought of being out there come across on a normal house – like arches, for instance. It’s on my own with no job and no house, I thought I would struggle. made me think, if I can do it here, I can do it anywhere. So, as I came to the end of my courses at Tedworth House I was So, it’s been a great opportunity. Bricklaying keeps you active, worried. But the support I’ve had from Help for Heroes and too, which I really like. I got my forklift licence while I was a now on the site has been brilliant. They’ve really looked out for resident at Tedworth – but I’d much rather be laying bricks, me. There’s good banter and camaraderie – it’s like all the best keeping fit and busy. I’ve loved it. aspects of the Army, only without the heavy-handed rules. Of What will you take away from this experience? course, you’ve got health and safety and certain things you have Well, the technical skills, of course. But more importantly, to follow, but basically there’s a lot of freedom. Once they saw I because this is my first proper job it’s really helped with the was good enough they just left me to it. process of reintegration. It’s really helped me overcome my fears and build my confidence. I’ve gone straight into a job with a

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Communiqué Issue 44 023 BEYOND CONSTRUCTION — HELP FOR HEROES

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bunch of people who’ve been great to work with; good as gold. A and the pay’s not bad’. He had an opportunity to come here and fantastic group of lads and I can’t thank them enough. Some of he’s a bit gutted he passed that up. He was just very wary, like them I see socially, and hopefully we’ll keep in touch. I was at the beginning. He certainly didn’t think I would stick this out; he didn’t think I would cope. But I did. It’s also helped me to focus and think ahead. I’ve realised this is definitely the direction I want to go in, and I’ve got a cracking CV now – something I can build on. I often think of my How do you feel about the future? friend who was with me next door at Tedworth House who’s a During this job, I’ve been working directly for a bricklaying plumber. He had the opportunity to come here and pick up more contractor called RJ Smiths, and they’ve possibly got more work skills, same as me. But he turned it down. He’s in London now coming up. So there may be opportunities there. But generally but he’s not got any work. We’re in regular contact, and he’ll ask I’m feeling positive about things. I’ve been very lucky. I don’t me, ‘Are you still working’, and I’ll say ‘Yeah, six months now know where I’d be right now if it wasn’t for the guys at Tedworth House and VINCI Construction UK. Coming out of treatment, coming out of the Army – it could’ve all been very tricky. So, I’m really grateful for the opportunity I’ve had here. Help for Heroes 04 and VINCI Construction UK have helped me get a foot in the door and move on from where I was. Now it’s down to me to make things happen – but I’m up for it.

01 Dan O’Callaghan

02 The Gym, Tedworth House

03 Tedworth House, Wiltshire

04 The Foyer, Tedworth House

Communiqué Issue 44 024 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

SAFETY POSTER COMPETITION VINCI Construction UK introduced a construction safety poster campaign for students in the North West to provide a visual understanding of how children perceive safe working behaviour in construction.

A competition formed part of the campaign and invited pupils to design a poster relating to safe working on site. The entries were judged by a panel of employees from the Health and Safety department. The winning posters have been displayed on VINCI Construction UK’s projects nationwide.

Wade Deacon High School’s art teacher, Kelly Philbin, said: “The campaign has a personal touch for pupils; it makes them reflect on how they would feel if they found out their parent or guardian was seriously injured.”

CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL REACHES RECORD HIGH Record numbers of children have been involved in a Yorkshire- based project supported by VINCI Construction UK for the sixth year in a row.

Over 35,000 children, young people and families took part in this year’s Sheffield Children’s Festival, an annual event which aims to engage children in the arts by exhibiting their work in professional spaces and giving them the chance to perform on stage in shows, musicals and plays.

Sheffield City Council Leader, Councillor Julie Dore said: “It’s been another fantastic festival which has brought children, their families and communities together through arts, music and dance. The festival wouldn’t be possible without support from our sponsor VINCI Construction UK. Their continued support shows their commitment to building the confidence and future of the children of Sheffield. We offer our huge thanks to them for making this festival one of the best attended yet.”

CLEANING THE TAME TOPSOIL DONATED TO COMMUNITY The team working on the IES Waste to Energy Treatment Plant ASSOCIATION in Oldbury recently took time out of their schedules to assist the Environmental Agency in collecting rubbish and debris along Twenty tonnes of topsoil has been donated to Worrall the nearby River Tame. Community Association for the landscaping of their Memorial Hall garden. As part of the initiative, VINCI Construction UK Project Manager, Mark Garner, said: “Protecting the worked with the association to provide and deliver the soil, environment and promoting a project site that carries out eco- which will be landscaped and seeded by Payback Volunteers, friendly practice is advocated in all activities we undertake.” who are part of Sheffield’s probationary system.

Communiqué Issue 44 025 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

CELEBRATING THE OLYMPICS IN THE COMMUNITY Thirteen volunteers from VINCI Facilities joined a day of festivities in the London Borough of Merton to celebrate the Olympics. The event was organised by Siobhan McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, and was attended by over 4,000 residents. In the spirit of the London 2012 motto “inspire a generation”, the team provided a fun-filled day of activities and prizes for the local children. A delighted Ms McDonagh thanked the participants: “For me, the variety of charitable, religious and commercial organisations brought home just what a thriving community we live in. I know BUDDING BRUNELS from the feedback already received that people really appreciated Young people from Lambeth have been given a much needed you being there.” career boost through the Construction Youth Trust’s Budding Brunels scheme. 30 Budding Brunels from across Lambeth experienced a taste of construction at the Streatham Hub redevelopment site, a project being undertaken by the Building Division - South. The scheme, supported by VINCI Construction UK, is a three-day schools engagement programme aimed at informing and exciting young students from disadvantaged backgrounds about higher education and career options within the construction industry. During their time on the programme, the participants practiced interviewing skills and learned how to turn an interview into a job offer. Additionally, five of the highest achieving students were offered summer work placements on the Streatham Hub project, giving them a valuable first step into the industry. GET INTO CONSTRUCTION VINCI Construction UK is working in BUILD IT 2012 joint venture with Galliford Try as part of Twelve employees from VINCI the Halton Transformational Partnership Construction UK became qualified consortium which is currently delivering STEM Ambassadors in March 2012. two schools in the North West; Wade This process equipped them with the Deacon High School and The Grange teaching skills to help communicate their School. knowledge about construction during the Both projects have teamed up with Build It 2012 event in South Yorkshire. youth charity, The Prince’s Trust, to offer The week-long event is aimed at 5-11 year unemployed people the opportunity to old students in over 90 primary schools. It take part in a course leading to a career requires the pupils to work in teams to plan in construction. and budget the design and construction The four week Prince’s Trust Get into of a small historic town using scientific, Construction programme is aimed technological and entrepreneurial at unemployed 16-25 year olds and elements. The Ambassadors assisted offers a two-week introduction to students in constructing the town the construction industry as well as including all historical buildings and vocational training. new developments.

Communiqué Issue 44 026 OUR PEOPLE

LONDON TO BRIGHTON BIKE RIDE The Tottenham Court Road project team have raised £3,300 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Railway Children and North West Air Ambulance by taking part in the 54 mile London to Brighton bike ride.

The annual challenge is the largest European fundraising cycle event of its kind and attracts around 27,000 participants, raising funds for key charities throughout the UK whilst enjoying a fun, but competitive, bike ride.

NOTTINGHAM DRAGON DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S BOAT RACE AWARD Employees from the Building Division Liam Swords, Assistant Construction have raised £1,100 for the Nottingham Manager, is taking part in the Duke of University Hospitals Charity by taking part Edinburgh’s Award. As part of Liam’s in the Nottingham Dragon Boat Charity voluntary assignment, he spent a week Race, which was held at Trent Bridge. redecorating his local Methodist church in North Yorkshire. Liam assisted by The company was competing against 24 repainting walls, patching up damp other teams and won first place in each boarding, refilling holes, adjusting of their three races, beating the defending slanted doors and restoring damaged champions from 2011, Interserve. Overall, flooring. VINCI Construction UK finished in a very credible 7th position, despite having the smallest team.

MONEY RAISED FOR DOG ATTACK HERO SHEFFIELD SCHOOL Billy Robson, a supervisor on the Jarrow Teachers and pupils at Bradfield School High Rise refurbishment project, has in Sheffield were grateful to VINCI been hailed a hero after saving seven- Construction UK for raising £800 to year-old Aiden Armstrong from a fund two school teams to enter The dangerous dog. Lego Robotics competition. The £22m Whilst working on the South Tyneside transformation of Bradfield School project, he saw Aiden being attacked is underway as part of the Sheffield and immediately rushed to the child’s Building Schools for the Future initiative. aid. Being a First Aider, he brought Aiden Over the past year, the site team have back to the site office and treated the worked closely with the school to wound before presenting him with a develop key learning activities. One VINCI Construction UK hard hat. of these was a series of Lego building workshops to help encourage pupils to develop key skills such as responsibility, accountability, leadership and team working.

Communiqué Issue 44 027 OUR PEOPLE

FIRST CLASS DEGREES THREE PEAKS A number of VINCI Construction UK employees have completed their university CHALLENGE studies this summer and graduated with first class degrees. Seven employees from the Performance Venue site in Doncaster have completed Helen Arthur (Commercial Management), Jamie Jackson (Construction Project the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge, Management), Alice Reynolds (Construction Management), Gary Kays (Construction raising over £2,500 for Marie Curie Project Management), Ashleigh Hopkins (Quantity Surveying) and Rob Walker (Project Cancer Care and KINDER, The Children’s Management) were among those who achieved top grades from their respective courses. Kidney Appeal. The team members Jo Mercer, Head of VINCI Construction UK’s Academy said: “This has been an incredibly included Ben Shearman, Gary Conner, promising year for everyone working with our Academy. When colleagues develop and Peter Day, Richard Du Preez, Richard expand their skills, they are not only investing in their own futures, but also that of the Hardwick, John Hobson and Mark teams around them.” Whittaker.

DAN’S 500 MILES FOR CHARITY A keen cyclist from VINCI Construction UK has peddled across Europe to raise money for charity.

The Streatham Hub project’s Dan Wallace battled his way through an exhausting 500 mile journey in memory of a friend’s six-year-old daughter, Abbie, who passed away in 2011 due to a rare and incurable illness known as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. RICHARD’S PEAK PERFORMANCE Setting off from Toulon in France, Dan and his team cycled across the south coast of France before reaching Barcelona a A member of the Nottingham Tram project has successfully week later. climbed the largest Welsh mountains to raise money for charity. Along with two friends, Richard Hogg, Construction Director, The group hope to raise £10,000 for Nottingham University’s managed to scale all fifteen of the country’s highest peaks in 19 Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre; a charity working hours and 40 minutes. to cure all child brain tumours whilst reducing the disability caused by them. Having lost his father-in-law, Bernard, to a rare and aggressive form of leukaemia, Richard undertook the challenge in support With less than £1,500 required to reach their target, the team’s of the Haematology Research fund of the Cardiff and Vale epic journey has certainly paid off. Health Charity. The team originally set out with a target of £1,500. Since then, donations have soared to £2,247, exceeding their goal by around 50%.

CHARITY SWIMATHON Lynn McGoff from VINCI Facilities has raised £2,300 for the Epilepsy Bereaved appeal through a two mile swimathon at Radcliffe Swimming Pool. Since losing her 19 year old daughter, Samantha, Lynn has been actively involved with the charity, raising £22,886 and receiving support from both John Travolta and Danny Boyle. Lynn said: “It was a fantastic day. Even my four year old daughter managed to swim 100m. We aimed to raise funds for research as well as raising awareness of Epilepsy.”

Communiqué Issue 44 028 AWARDS AND ACCREDITATIONS

LABC AWARDS SUCCESS INVESTORS IN DIVERSITY VINCI Construction UK won a gold award at this year’s North VINCI Construction UK has become the largest private sector East Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence company in the UK to attain Investors in Diversity (IID) Level 2 awards. The £26m High Storrs School contract won the award status. for Best Restoration and Conversion Project. The IID Award is given to organisations that take a structured The project, a complicated redevelopment, required the use and well-planned approach to equality and diversity, whilst of innovative construction techniques and was completed in understanding the different needs of stakeholders. collaboration with the Technology Centre to ensure provision of the most advanced solutions. The methods employed saved both Solat Chaudhry, IID’s Chief Executive welcomed the move: “It is time and money for the client. fantastic to see an organisation the size of VINCI, which is such a key player in the UK construction industry, wholeheartedly At the LABC National Awards, Building Division’s Birmingham embracing the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion.” office was presented with an award in the category of “Building Excellence” in recognition of the high standards of construction and workmanship carried out on the Bengeworth First School project.

TWO BUILT IN QUALITY AWARDS Teams from two projects, Bagot Street Student Accommodation CONSIDERATE CONSTRUCTORS and the Performance Hub, received top accolades at Birmingham’s Built in Quality Awards. Both awards were The Building Division – North has won two silver and two selected in the Partnership category and were presented by the bronze awards at the Considerate Constructors Scheme’s (CCS) Lord Mayor of Birmingham. 2012 National Site Awards. The award ceremony recognised the most considerate sites in the UK for 2011. The Nottingham Trent University UPP Clifton project and the Bradfield School project won Silver awards whilst the Bents Green and Whiston projects each received a Bronze. COLLABORATION AWARD CCS has also awarded a high rating to Tedworth House, a project VINCI Construction UK’s Luton Sixth Form College project on behalf of Help for Heroes. A score of 37.5 from a possible won the Award for Integration and Collaborative Working at 40, signifying performance beyond compliance, places the site the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Constructing Excellence within the 10% best sites in the UK. Awards.

The project has provided students with a new campus and high specification facilities. The college was also awarded runner- up in the Innovation category. Those involved in the project YOUNG APPRENTICESHIP AWARD were commended for their continual efforts to carry out robust reviews of design information and suggest possible alternatives Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has recognised VINCI to save time and cost. Construction UK with an Investors Award for their invaluable support for the Young Apprenticeship Programme. This is the third consecutive year that the company has been recognised for supporting and developing young people in Barnsley. The programme, which has a 100% success rate, provides pupils SPONSORSHIP OF EXCELLENCE with invaluable experience to support and develop their AWARDS education and career path. VINCI Construction UK has sponsored the Construction Martin Adamson of Young Apprenticeships for Barnsley said: Excellence North East Awards, which recognise excellence in “The programme gave pupils the rare opportunity to learn the construction industry across the region. invaluable skills in a live working and challenging environment.”

Communiqué Issue 44 029 TAKE A BREAK FOR SAFETY At 10am on the 6th September, the entire business paused for 20 minutes to re-enforce the importance of our Step UP health and safety initiative. Our site and office teams shared ideas, experiences and areas of concern, all with the aim of continually improving health and safety.