NIBuilder 32-5 Oct-Nov

The only bi-monthly journal for the Northern Ireland construction industry!

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER

Vol 32 No 5 2021

And thewinners are…

Celebrating the achievements of the construction industry inNorthern Ireland

NI BUILDER

Inside this issue...

Issue 32-5 - Oct-Nov 2021

66 83 NI BUILDER IS THE OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER FOR - CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS FEDERATION FOR THEIR LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES - SEE PAGES 19-33

News &Views 6 Gilbert-Ash up for Stirling Prize Europe’s first ‘eco-mosque’, built by Belfast-based construction firm Gilbert-Ash, has been nominated for the 2021 RIBA Stirling Prize Award. 10 Construction sector activity slows The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland posts a five-month low. 14 Work starts on NRC college campus Main contractor Heron Bros begins construction on the £40m Northern Regional College campus building. THE TEAM: Managing Director Karen McAvoy Editor Heather Campbell Sales Manager Karen Jess Advertising Julie Patterson Production Manager Julie Anne Guiney Digital Creative Manager Jo Hendron Digital Content Editor Cathal Delea Digital Communications Rachel Freeman Accounts Andrea Simpson Photography Gordon McAvoy Printed by W&G Baird

Products 41 CLC

In Focus 19 Celebrating excellence in construction Meet the winners of the

Hulfators Group Ireland (Snickers Workwear) introduces American brand CLC Work Gear to the Irish market.

Construction Employers Federation’s Construction Excellence Awards 2021.

60 Doorways

43 Take it to the bank Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd and specialist contractors deliver Grade A office fit- out to AIB’s NI Head Office. 76 Brickwork that builds a connection IG Masonry Support creates an impressive brickwork design for The Junction community hub.

Doorways launches fresh new range of primed doors for 2022.

81 Kingspan Klargester

Just-launched Klargester Biotec® uses unique aerobic biological trickling filter process technology for efficient treatment of sewage.

CONTACT US: The Forge, 13b Lisburn Road, Moira, Co. Armagh, BT67 0JR T: Moira: 028 9261 2990 T: Dublin: 01 696 8319 E: northernbuilder@kmpltd.co.uk www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI Builder Magazine @nibuilder NI Builder Magazine @nibuilder

NI Builder

With reference to the Misdescriptions Act, please note that the measurements and artist’s impressions within are for illustrative purposes only and may not be accurate. Reproduction of whole or in part of this publication, without prior permission from Karen McAvoy Publishing Ltd, is strictly prohibited.

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NI BUILDER | 3

INDUSTRY NEWS

GORDON BEST, REGIONAL DIRECTOR MPA NI, ON THE RISE OF RAWMATERIALS COST AND SHORTAGES… Unprecedented increase in material costs and shortages

T he recent Ulster Bank PMI survey revealed again an all too familiar story of inflationary pressures and lengthening supplier delivery times. Within the UK, Northern Ireland continues to report the steepest rises in input costs, with local firms raising the prices of their goods and services at faster rates than any other region. Price pressures linked to raw materials, fuel, freight, wages and Brexit continued to be cited by survey respondents. So why is this unprecedented increase in material costs and shortages happening and when is it likely to end? GLOBAL CONTEXT In January 2021, the Carbon price sat at around £35 per tonne; at the end of September it’s sitting at £65. Expectation is that it could rise to £100 per tonne by June 2022. The cost of shipping a container from China to Europe have risen from £1,500 to almost £14,000 since January 2021. Wholesale prices for gas has risen 250% since January, and 70% since the start of August. 60% of UK Natural Gas is imported. Oil - up from $40/barrel this time last year to $74/barrel, + 85%, and set to remain at $70+ to year end. Gas Oil - linked to oil, up over 40% since same time last year. Furthermore, impact of red diesel changes from April 2022 will see doubling in price. All of the above feed into the construction supply chain and will continue to make the cost of supply of cement, bitumen, aggregates, admixtures, pigments and transport extremely volatile. UK IMPACT The construction materials shortage can, in part, be traced back to increased building and home improvement activity in 2020, particularly during the first lockdown. This led to a slowdown in the production of materials from some factories in the EU, and supply chains have remained stretched ever since. But while construction output reached a

24-year high in June, demand is not being met by supply, and suppliers’ delivery times have lengthened. WHICH MATERIALS ARE AFFECTED? There has been a nationwide timber shortage since the first lockdown in March 2020, and imports remain an issue, against a backdrop of high demand for wood and wood products. Steel is in high demand globally, and shortages could persist until the end of the year. British Steel recently stopped taking orders on structural steel sections due to “extreme demand”. Roughly half of National Federation of Roofing Contractors members reported a shortage of concrete roof tiles earlier this year. Lead times for concrete tiles are between 20-36 weeks, on average, while lead times for clay are between 4-8 weeks. Supplies of bagged cement have been strained since late last year, and Pal Chana, Executive Director of the Mineral Products Association, warned in July that supplies will not return to normal until the end of the year. Certain electronic components, caused by a shortage of raw materials, could extend into next year and supplies of paints and sealants to the UK are restricted due to a global shortage and cost of shipping containers. There was a severe plaster shortage earlier

this year, and while supplies improved earlier this year, plasterboard has been subject to extended lead times, the CLC said in June. LOCAL DATA FROM MPANI MEMBERS Price increases we have experienced over the last three years: • Cement +15.91% per tonne • Aggregates +14.2% • Steel - Coil/rebar +48.1% /Pre-stressing strand +39.2% • Labour costs +19.6% There was no accurate figure for the haulage, but again it would easily be over 15%+. One local company with a turnover of approx. £40million has reported that, based on the same workload volume, revenue would need to increase by up to £2million in the next 12 months to cover increased labour, energy, materials and insurance costs known at this moment in time. The MPANI is the principal trade association for the quarrying and quarry products industry in Northern Ireland affiliated to the Minerals Products Association (MPA) in the UK.

For further information, call: +44 (0)28 9082 4078 or email info@mpani.org

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NI BUILDER | 5

NEWS

MARATHON ACHIEVEMENT FORKID’S

CANCER CHARITY

Congratulations to Dowds Contracts Manager, Davy Gordon for completing the Belfast City Marathon and running in aid of Cancer Fund for Children. The Cancer Fund for Children charity was chosen by the multi-disciplined services and construction company in memory of esteemed colleague, Gary McSorley, who sadly passed away following his illness in April of this year. Cancer Fund for Children’s aim is to empower, connect and strengthen, so the children and their families feel equipped to deal with whatever the future may hold. Their focus is not just on the young person, but on the whole family. In addition to Davy’s outstanding achievement of running the Belfast marathon for the first time, Dowds came together on Saturday, October 9 for a 5K Fun Run/Walk around Garvagh Forest in memory of Gary. If you would like to donate towards

Kieran Harding, Managing Director, Business in the Community NI, Ian Henry, Director and Jennifer Cruickshank, HR Manager, Henry Brothers Ltd.

HENRYBROS. NAMEDNI RESPONSIBLE COMPANYOFTHEYEAR

Henry Bros. has won the NI Responsible Company of the Year title at Business in the Community’s 2021 Responsible Business Awards at an online celebration event in September. A panel of independent judges nominated Henry Bros. for the prestigious award for “demonstrating the implementation of a wide range of successful corporate responsibility initiatives that strategically address key issues and challenges in a way that creates value for both society and the business.” Ian Henry CR Director, said, “We are truly delighted to be announced as Business in the Community NI Responsible Company of the Year during what has been an

unprecedented year for us all, but a year in which being a responsible business has never been more important. Throughout the year we have all witnessed and developed a new appreciation for even the simplest acts of kindness and a willingness to help others. It has also taught us that we are ‘Altogether Stronger’ and more resilient when we support each other, particularly during difficult times. “Winning this prestigious award would not have been possible without the engagement and support of our entire workforce and many stakeholders. So, a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to this fantastic achievement.”

this fantastic cause, visit - https://lnkd.in/ddZdYuC7

GILBERT-ASH’SPROJECTUPFORTOP NATIONALPRIZE

Europe’s first ‘eco-mosque’, built by Belfast-based construction firm Gilbert- Ash has been nominated for the 2021 RIBA Stirling Prize Award. Cambridge Central Mosque is one of six projects to be selected from the 2021 RIBA National Award winners.

The Stirling Prize is awarded to buildings deemed to be the most significant of the year for the evolution of architecture and the built environment. Marks Barfield Architects, who are in the running for the award, designed the building. It will be the third Gilbert-Ash project to be shortlisted for the category. The company’s work on the Lyric Theatre in 2012 and the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre in 2013 were also recognised, while its work on the Everyman Theatre went on to win the category in 2014. Ray Hutchinson, Managing Director of Gilbert-Ash, described the mosque as “a unique building in so many ways, with remarkable intricate attention to detail”.

Cambridge Central Mosque, built by Gilbert-Ash.

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NATIONAL MASTER BUILDER AWARDS 2021

APPRENTICE JOINER LUKE EMERY AND SETANTA CONSTRUCTION FROM NI ARE THE BEST IN THE UK… Northern IrishMaster Builders scoop national awards

L uke Emery, an apprentice at the Castlederg construction firm Lowry Building & Civil Engineering and Magherafelt-based firm Setanta Construction have been named winners at this years’ Federation of Master Builders’ (FMB) National Master Builder Awards. Following their success at the Northern Ireland Master Builder Awards ceremony in June, Luke Emery went on to scoop the national Apprentice Award, while Setanta Construction Ltd was named national Building Company of the Year. TV presenter and building enthusiast Nick Knowles announced the national winners during a live virtual ceremony held on September 24. The awards recognise building excellence, quality craftsmanship and exceptional customer service. They are run by the FMB, the largest trade association in the UK construction sector, which is this year celebrating its 80th anniversary. Luke Emery, a joinery apprentice, was recognised for “going the extra mile” for his team and customers, and his natural aptitude, growing skill level and eagerness to learn in his chosen trade. Lee Jones, Deputy Editor at Professional Builder and a national judge said, “To stand out in a field of very strong candidates was itself telling. Luke was a very well-rounded individual, he had determination, he had teamwork, he had communication. He also clearly had a lot of ambition, willing to progress and build on the skills and talent he has.” Reacting to his win, Luke said, “I’m delighted; it’s crazy! I have loved the variety of an apprenticeship, getting out and about on site. I would like to thank everyone at Lowry Building and Civil Engineering who has welcomed me; and continues to accommodate me. It’s a good environment to work in. I’d like to thank my mentor, Tommy, in particular.” Setanta Construction Ltd, a second- generation family business that specialises in timber frame builds and off-site manufacture was awarded national Building Company of the Year for its

FMB names Setanta Construction Ltd national Building Company of the Year.

courage to innovate and grow during the pandemic. Now at the forefront of building low- carbon, energy efficient homes, the company recently expanded its workshop and secured funding from Invest Northern Ireland to support research and development and local job creation. The judges also applauded Setanta’s commitment to employee training and wellbeing, including regular toolbox talks

demonstration of all these different areas makes it a worthy winner.” Mark Gribbin, Director of Setanta Construction Ltd, said, “It’s great to be recognised. I know lots of other companies will be doing what they can for their staff, to be supportive. Everyone’s finding it tough, but we’re finding a way through it. It’s interesting, challenging, but rewarding work.” Congratulations also go to all FMB members from Northern Ireland who made it to the national finals. For more information on the FMB, or how to become a Master Builder, call 028 9446 0416 or visit www.fmb.org.uk/nb

and its support of apprentices. Simon Ayres, Chief Executive of

TrustMark and a national judge said, “As we move forward into the 2020s, we have to now support new thinking, new ideas and new technologies. This company’s

Luke Emery (Lowry Building & Civil Engineering) scooped the FMB national Apprentice Award.

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NI BUILDER | 9

NEWS

The McAvoy Group has announced the appointment of Ron Clarke as CEO following the retirement of Mark Lowry, who will remain with the business as Non- Executive Director. Ron was appointed COO in March 2021, following senior roles with construction leader Graham - where he played a key role in the growth of the business nationally - and more recently with Mac Group. Mark Lowry joined McAvoy in March 2019, shortly before funds advised by Blantyre Capital became the new majority owner. He has since steered the business through a challenging period and spearheaded its return to profitability. Ron Clarke commented, “Mark has played a pivotal role over the past two years in leading an ambitious growth strategy and, together with our very talented and experienced management team, I am looking forward to taking the business into the next phase of its development. We McAVOYGROUP ANNOUNCES NEWCEO

The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) has welcomed proposed changes to Building Regulations by the Department of Finance, which would require new buildings in Northern Ireland to be more energy efficient. Speaking about the new measures, Ciarán Fox, Director of the RSUA said the launch of the draft technical documents to require Nearly-Zero Energy Buildings was an important “first step” on the road to reducing heating bills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. Adding, “In terms of the energy efficiency of our buildings we are currently behind all other regions of the UK and Ireland but this will help us catch up. “There has been a lot of news recently about gas prices rocketing up. The best way to protect people from rising home heating costs is to build houses which don’t require much heating at all. “Architects and the whole supply chain have already demonstrated the ability to deliver to these higher energy performance standards. Therefore, we look forward to the speedy implementation of these standards across the board.” If approved after consultation, Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) will become the legal standard in Northern Ireland. The proposed changes will be open for consultation until December 19, 2021. RSUA WELCOMES STEP FORWARD IN NI’SRESPONSE TOCLIMATE EMERGENCY

Ron Clarke, takes the reins as CEO for The McAvoy Group.

continue to make significant investments in growing the company, including the expansion of our hire fleet.” The McAvoy Group is one of the leading offsite and MMC specialists in the UK and Ireland.

CONSTRUCTIONSECTORACTIVITY SLOWS –ULSTERBANK

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland – which track changes in total construction activity - posted a five-month low of 56.3 in September 2021 from 57.5 in August. However, it still points to a marked growth of increase after Covid-19 curbs were lifted.

Activity in housing slowed (59.8 vs 62.2 in August) while civil engineering work shrank for the second month in a row (43.3 vs 48.6). Meantime, commercial output grew faster (56.7 vs 54.9). New order growth eased despite rising for the sixth straight month, and staffing levels

gained at the softest pace since April amid difficulty in sourcing staff. Efforts to build stocks of inputs also contributed to the latest sharp rise in purchasing activity. Suppliers’ delivery times lengthened substantially due to further delays, Brexit, and lack of drivers. Prices data pointed to another steep rise in input costs, with the reading fractionally softer than July’s series record. Looking ahead, sentiment hit a seven- month low but remained above the series average, on hopes for pent-up demand.

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Let’sTalkHealth

I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H

#LetsTalkHealth

Download the latest resources and discussion guides, to help you and other colleagues discuss important issues related to health issues in the construction industry and ‘Lets get our industry talking’

www.buildhealthni.com

BuildHealth “Let’s Talk Health” initiative

The aim is to refocus on key areas of occupational health

Stop what you are doing, gather with colleagues in socially distanced groups

Take 15 minutes to discuss the chosen topic using the following questions as a guide

Share your pictures on social media #letstalkhealth

HEALTH

Pictured L-R: Wendy Beatty, Chair Buildhealth, Robert Kidd, Chief Executive, Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and William Lemon, IOSH Chair for Northern Ireland.

BUILDHEALTH CHAIR, WENDY BEATTY ON HOW SHARING THE SAME MESSAGE CAN MAKE A BIG IMPACT ON THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE INDUSTRY’S WORKFORCE… Sharing is caring for the health and safety of workerswithin the consruction industry

W endy Beatty’s professional construction career spans more than 20 years, much of it spent within the health and safety field. During her career it became clear to her there needs to be better provision and sharing of information around Health issues and best practice to the wider construction industry, including smaller subcontracted companies. As she comes to the end of her two- year tenure as Chair of Buildhealth, she reflects on how far the industry has come in terms of improving heath and safety standards for its workforce, and where it still needs to go.

NIB: First of all, what is BuildHealth? Who are its members and what are its main aims? WB: Buildhealth members are construction companies from across Northern Ireland, large and small, who are committed to improving the health of workers within the industry. NIB: What is the construction industry in Northern Ireland doing right in terms of improving the health and safety of its workforce? WB: During my time within the construction industry there have been many changes in relation to health and safety. Machinery has improved, with

additional safety features such as all- round visibility and use of visual aids. Improvements in design of plant and machinery have seen reduced levels of workplace exposure to noise and vibration. I have also seen a considerable shift in relation to staff welfare by the provision of better facilities on site. The construction industry has also been leaders in development of policies and procedures around support of workers from a mental health and wellbeing perspective. The industry is sharing information to staff; providing training and guidance to its staff on how to work both healthily and safely, and involving staff

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HEALTH

Lets TalkHealth In conjunction with IOSH, Buildhealth have put together a series of 10 discussion topics in relation to health for use as discussion points on sites during the ‘Lets Talk Health’ week. Each topic has a Q&A section designed to raise awareness and encourage sites to get back to talking about health issues and help prevent health issues for staff further down the line. In support of the initiative, Robert Kidd, Chief Executive, Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland commented, “HSENI supports the ‘Let’s Talk Health’ week and encourages companies to get involved in having these practical health discussions on site. Together we can all make a real difference to health outcomes for construction workers. Health risks can be assessed and mitigated with appropriate measures and controls.”

NIB: What message do you have to any construction industry companies who are not already signed up to the Buildhealth initiative? WB: I strongly believe that if we are all sharing the same message we can make a bigger contribution and impact on the health of all those who work within the industry. We can ensure that smaller

in the decision-making processes so they understand the long-term risks associated with exposure to noise, dust, chemicals, occupational cancers, stress, manual handling etc. We are working towards ensuring a good work/life balance is achieved by assessing the impacts of working hours, ensuring staff welfare is a priority when working away from home and by providing health screening for staff and developing employment assistance programmes. NIB: Where is the industry falling short and what can it do better? WB: We are falling short by not recognising the long-term effects of occupational health issues. We do not give health the same risk profile as we do safety, even though statistics on occupational health issues indicate that we should. Control measures are easily achievable and we must ensure staff coming into the industry are protected against long-term health issues. NIB: How does BuildHealth aim to help the industry improve the health and safety of its workforce? WB: Buildhealth provides website resources, opportunities for best practice sharing, training events and annual conference to share information among members. Buildhealth also runs a mentoring scheme for new members, establishes ‘champion sites’ and encourages interaction between construction companies. Our “Let’s Talk Health” week this October was aimed at re-enforcing the message on health issues to the workforce.

companies, who may not have access to the information and

resources, are able to benefit from the knowledge and mentoring of like- minded companies and individuals. Collaboration with HSENI, CITB and WHLG ensures that all members are kept up-to-date with current issues and new developments around the health and safety field. As a group we can also influence what issues need to be addressed. For more information about the benefits of becoming a Buildhealth member, visit: www.buildhealthni.com

Robert Kidd, Chief Executive, Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.

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NEWS

Fivemiletown-based paving and building products firm, AG, has switched to 100% renewable energy with the help of Electric Ireland. Stephen Acheson, CEO at AG, said the firm will continue to reduce its carbon footprint where possible. “Working closely with our Net Zero Carbon team that’s solely dedicated to making the business more sustainable and more energy efficient, we have outlined core plans to reduce direct and indirect waste like we have done at the Fivemiletown site, as its currently operating at zero wastage.” “This new commitment to renewable energy is intrinsic to the balance between the social, economic, and environmental aspects of our business. As further evidence of this, we are working in partnership with Queens University Belfast to develop a carbon calculator to measure CO 2 in our products. Our switch to 100% renewable energy will enable us to reduce our CO 2 levels by 1,500 tonnes per year, based on last year’s consumption, so this is a significant initiative for us as part of our environmental strategy.” AGSWITCHES TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY

Mel Higgins (left) from the Northern Regional College (NRC) with Karl McKillop from Heron Bros. Photo: NRC.

WORKSTARTSONMULTI-MILLION POUNDNRCCOLLEGECAMPUS

Led by contractor Heron Bros, construction of the new £40m Northern Regional College campus building at Union Street in Coleraine has begun. The campus will feature a fully accessible, state-of- the-art, 12,560m 2 four-storey building, incorporating the former Church of Ireland premises on Brook Street, which will be fully restored to house a 80-100 seat Performing Arts Centre. Karl McKillop, Construction Director with Heron Bros said, “We are proud to be involved in this prestigious development and look forward to the next important steps in delivering this complex education

facility and leaving a lasting legacy for Coleraine and the wider area.” It is anticipated that over 100 new construction jobs will be created and a further 300 sustained during the building phase of the Coleraine campus. Along with these full-time jobs, over 1,000 weeks of employment and training will be provided through traineeships, apprenticeships and higher level apprenticeships (HLAs) across a range of construction related trades. The Coleraine campus construction project is expected to complete in the 2023/2024 academic year.

GEDAWATERSCULPTUREMARKS FLOODALLEVIATIONPROJECT

Geda Construction and NI Water have been working with local schools in the vicinity of the Ravenhill Avenue Flood Alleviation Project and recently visited Aquinas Grammar School to make some great additions to their Wellbeing Garden.

A fantastic sculpture, which recycles rainwater via its pumping mechanism, was presented by Geda Construction as well as a waterbutt from NI Water. Many schools are seeking to improve their outdoor learning environments to enhance pupil wellbeing and mental health alongside improving the sustainability of the school grounds. Waterbutts are a great way to do this as they harvest rainwater, which can then be used to water plants encouraging pupils to save water and look after the natural environment. Once complete, in early 2023, this major £7 million Flood Alleviation project will reduce the risk of sewer flooding in the Ravenhill Avenue area.

Cathy Maguire (left) HSEQ Manager AG, Keith Scott CFO AG and Ann Lowry Cus- tomer Services Manager at Electric Ireland.

Geda Construction’s water sculpture recycles rainwater via its pumping mechanism. Photo: NI Water.

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COMPANY NEWS

L-R: Emmett Shiels, Jeff McCreanor, Damien Ming, Tim Hanna, Victoria Allen, Geoff Warke, Kevin Dougall.

Gleeds - independent since 1885

G leeds helps businesses and that is reassuringly free from conflict of interest. With over 130 years’ experience, our impartial intelligence is key to helping clients realise their projects on budget, on time and to an exceptional quality. The company has successfully delivered £130 billion + projects per annum. investors achieve best value from their assets by providing advice SERVICES Through a multidisciplinary approach Gleeds operates a partnering principle with clients and project teams, offering

GLEEDS IS A GLOBAL PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANCY THAT HAS BUILT ITS REPUTATION ON DELIVERING AWARD- WINNING PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD…

impartial advice across an extensive range of services to provide solutions for every stage of the property lifecycle: • Programme & Project Management • Commercial & Contract Management

• Property & Asset Management • Advisory Services • BIM • Building

Surveying • Cost Management & Quantity Surveying • Dispute Resolution & Expert Witness • Due Diligence Facilities & Operational Management • Health & Safety Investment & Estates Strategy • Procurement Advice • Project Controls • Risk Management • Sustainability Tax, Grants & Insurance • Whole Life Value

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COMPANY NEWS

SECTOR EXPERTISE Criminal Justice Defence Education Energy, Oil & Gas Healthcare

Heritage & Culture Hotels & Hospitality

Industrial & Manufacturing Media & Communications Offices & Commercial Retail Residential Science & Pharmaceuticals Sports & Recreation Transport & Infrastructure

A GLOBAL PRESENCE, LOCAL KNOWLEDGE AMERICAS • ASIA PACIFIC • EUROPE • MENA

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The combination of our global experience and our understanding of local markets means that we provide an outstanding service to our clients. In fact, no other independent and multidisciplinary consultancy has the same history, resources and financial strength to handle complex contracts on both a multinational and local basis. GLOBAL REACH, GLOBAL RECOGNITION A selection of our clients includes: Construction Consultant of the Year | Building Magazine Awards Winner Building Consultancy of the Year | Eurobuild Awards Project Management Firm of the Year | Europa Property Retail Awards Project Management Firm of the Year | Europa Property CEE Investment & Green Building Awards Green Professional Service Provider of the Year | Europa Property CEE Investment & Green Building Awards Construction Consultant of the Year | Construction News Awards Finalist Project Achievement Award | Construction Management Association of America Award Project of the Year | Construction Management Association of America Award International Safety Award | Association for Project Management Annual Awards

Gleeds inNorthern Ireland

Gleeds’ Belfast office was established in 2018, providing Project Management and Cost Management services across Ireland. Today it also includes Building Surveying, Information Management and Advisory services. Able to draw on Gleeds’ substantial technical and professional resources, the Belfast office is able to provide its clients with leading-edge advice and guidance. The recent appointments of Tim Hanna as Project Director and Head of Project & Information Management, and Victoria Allen as Executive Information Manager, will see Gleeds play a major role in shaping this increasingly important

service offering for clients. Clients include Ards & North Down Council, Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, Boots, Choice Housing, Department for Communities, Domino’s Pizza, IDA Ireland, PwC, Queen’s University and Translink. Gleeds acted as Cost Manager on PwC’s prestigious and ground-breaking new office in Merchant Square, Belfast, which is now the benchmark for PwC’s offices across the world. Other notable projects include Armagh Leisure Village, Carrickfergus Castle & Visitor Centre, Glenarm Village regeneration, Mullingar Business & Technology

Park and St Patrick’s Barracks redevelopment, Ballymena.

429 Holywood Road, Belfast BT42LN T: +44 (0)28 9590 1500 - E: geoff.warke@gleeds.com www.gleeds.com

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NI BUILDER | 17

NEWS

Spanwall’s senior team pictured L-R: Philip West, Sales Director, David Clark Manufacturing Director and Keith Toner Managing Director.

BELFAST-BASED ARCHITECTURAL WALL CLADDING SPECIALIST SPANWALL APPOINTS DAVID CLARK AS MANUFACTURING DIRECTOR... NewMDheralds ambitious growth plans for Spanwall

D avid Clarke joins the Spanwall Board with immediate effect and will assist in delivering an ambitious growth strategy, with a focus on delivering manufacturing efficiencies and continuous improvement. Spanwall Managing Director Keith Toner welcomed the appointment and said, “David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team, most recently as Manufacturing Director and Head of Innovation at The McAvoy Group. We are delighted to welcome him back to Spanwall where he spent almost six years in the early part of his career. As a business, now under new ownership, we have a strong pipeline of work and are committed to delivering an aggressive growth strategy.” Spanwall Financial Controller, Anna Hanna said, “David has joined us to ensure that Spanwall’s manufacturing capabilities meet the strategic needs of the business over the next few years, delivering efficiency improvements

and digital solutions to create a best- in-class production facility. Building on the extensive knowledge and skills that already exist within the business, together as a senior management team we want to leverage this, create a culture of continuous improvement, and develop a learning factory of the future. This will create a solid foundation for the manufacturing team to grow and sustain itself in alignment with the positive growth curve of the company.” David said he was delighted to be “back home” 18 years after his first stint with Spanwall. “I am hugely excited about the opportunity that lies ahead for myself within the company. Having started my career here almost 25 years ago, it truly does feel like I have returned home again. To be able to join the senior team and be part of the transformational journey that lies ahead, will provide me with a platform to embed manufacturing excellence and innovation right across the business.”

Spanwall has provided specialist cladding solutions on many signature buildings throughout the world from Belfast to Barbados, Dublin to Amsterdam and from South Africa to Saudi Arabia, specified by architects and designers working on behalf of brands including Google, Apple, Microsoft, Guinness, British Airways and Audi. The company won the overall Jury Prize at the prestigious European Aluminium Awards for Industrial Design and Engineering in Dusseldorf. Spanwall and Novelis of Switzerland were awarded the huge accolade of the overall jury prize out of 63 entries from 12 countries. Founded in 1967, Spanwall was acquired earlier this year by Belfast-based private equity firm, Cordovan Capital Management Limited. The company employs around 50 people from a factory in the Carryduff Business Park. For more information on Spanwall, visit: www.spanwall.com

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AND THEWINNERS ARE...

WATCH THE VIRTUAL EVENT -

CEFNI

PATRONS

MEDIA PARTNER

CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS FEDERATION MANAGING DIRECTOR, MARK SPENCE, INTRODUCES THE 2021 CONSTRUCTION EXCELLENCE AWARDS… CelebratingExcellence inConstruction

A fter an absence of a year due to the pandemic, I know I speak for many across the industry who were delighted to see the return of the Construction Excellence Awards on October 7th, with our first-ever virtual

awards ceremony recognising the very best that our members, subcontractors, supply chains and, crucially, their employees, have delivered on behalf of a wide range of clients across these islands. Despite the battle with Coronavirus, the

exceptionally high standard of entries for this year’s awards is a testament to the ability of local construction firms to deliver world-leading projects with the potential to benefit the wider community in Northern Ireland. Contractors such as Ganson UK and Charles Brand won over the judges with exceptional Social/Community projects on the Lagan Gateway and Green Hill YMCA Community Hub, while Braidwater Homes, Connolly & Fee and Mascott Construction lifted awards in the Housing categories for developments that delivered world-class homes for people across NI. Our industry’s ability to overcome the challenges presented by Covid-19 was also on full display. Health & Safety Award winners, GEDA Construction implemented procedures above government guidelines

Claire McCollum, Broadcaster and Journalist with Barra Best, Broadcaster and Weather Presenter.

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For more information on the Construction Employers Federation,

T: (028) 9087 7143 E: mail@cefni.co.uk visit: www.cefni.co.uk

T H E V O I C E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y

Bonus Awards • Overall Winner Award - GRAHAM Farrans Joint Venture, A6 Dualling Scheme • Achieving Excellence in Partnering Award - Woodvale Construction - Schools 5 Bundle Completion works Construction Person of the Year Awards • Apprentice of the Year Award - Annie Crozier - Heron Bros • Rising Star Award - Jordan Allingham - EHA Group • Outstanding Contributor Award - Jim Killen - Sacyr UK Quality Performance • Training Award - Combined Facilities Management • Health & Safety Award - GEDA Construction • Environmental Sustainability Award - Dawson WAM • Social Value Award - Combined Facilities Management - NIHE Maintenance & Improvement Contract Housing • Social Housing Award - Connolly & Fee - Graham Street, Lisburn • Private Housing Award - Braidwater Homes - Birch Hill, Derry/Londonderry • Multiple Occupancy Award - Mascott Construction (Europe) - FX Building, Belfast • Multiple Occupancy Award - HIGHLY COMMENDED - JH Turkington & Sons - 123 York Street, Belfast General Construction • Commercial Construction Award, above £1m - Farrans Construction - South Lake Leisure Centre, Craigavon • Social/Community Construction Award, below £1m - Ganson UK - Greenhill YMCA Community Hub, Newcastle • Social/Community Construction Award, above £1m - Charles Brand - Lagan Gateway Project, Belfast • Fit-Out Award - GRAHAM - Eagle Star House, Belfast • Restoration Award - Woodvale Construction - St Mary’s Church, Lavey • Building in Use Award - Woodvale Construction - Arvalee School & Resource Centre, Omagh GB & ROI and Infrastructure • GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Award, above £2.5m - Woodvale Construction - NDFA Schools Bundle 5, Carlow, Kells, Bray & Wexford • GB & Republic of Ireland Construction Award, below £2.5m - J Oliver Hearty & Sons - Grange Castle Park & Castle Conservation, Dublin • Transport and Utilities Infrastructure Award - GRAHAM Farrans Joint Venture - A6 Dualling Scheme • Health Infrastructure Award - Farrans Construction - Altnagelvin Hospital, North Wing, Derry/Londonderry • Education Infrastructure Award - OHMG – Southern Regional Collage, Banbridge

for all 125 of its staff, but also extended this focus to the wellbeing of the wider supply chain and community. Training Awards winners, Combined Facilities Management (CFM), took advantage of technology to help their team continue training throughout the pandemic, ensuring their staff and sub-contractors were equipped with the knowledge to deliver. The Construction Excellence Awards also showcased individual and emerging talent through the Construction Person of the Year, Rising Star and Apprentice of the Year awards, which recognised how our sector would be nothing without its people. The winners of these awards, Jim Killen (Sacyr UK), Jordan Allingham (EHA Group) and Annie Crozier (Heron Bros) should be rightly proud of the recognition they have achieved. As usual, the awards were independently judged by a panel of industry experts who agreed that to be a winner among this year’s calibre of entrants was a significant achievement. This makes the success of Woodvale Construction, who picked up an amazing four trophies in the Building in Use, Restoration, GB & Republic of Ireland Construction – above £2.5m, and Achieving Excellence in Partnering categories, all the more impressive. Farrans Construction also celebrated 4 awards, the first two in their own right for the Health Infrastructure Award for Altnagelvin Hospital North Wing and the Commercial Construction Award for South Lake Leisure Centre. Their other two awards were as partners in the GRAHAM Farrans Construction JV for the A6 Dualling Scheme, which won the Transport and Utilities Infrastructure Award and the Overall Winner Award. Collaboration was a recurring theme in the success of many of this year’s winning projects, and it proved to be the case also with the Overall Winner Award which was presented to GRAHAM Farrans Joint Venture for their work on the A6 Randalstown – Castledawson Dualling Scheme project. This flagship £189m scheme was described by Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, as a “project that we are rightly proud of” and one that the judging panel agreed would benefit Northern Ireland for many decades to come. For now, all that’s left for me to say is thank you to everyone who entered and got involved in making this year’s Awards a reality. I congratulate you on your achievements and look forward to seeing you all in person next year.

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NI BUILDER | 21

Gareth McLaverty (Project Manager - GRAHAMs), Leo Martin (MD of GRAHAMS), Dominic Lavery (MD - Farrans Construction).

Gareth McLaverty (Project Manager - GRAHAMs), Dominic Lavery (MD - Farrans Construction).

OverallWinner Award - Transport andUtilities InfrastructureAward

WINNER: GRAHAMFARRANS JOINTVENTURE - A6RANDALSTOWN CASTLEDAWSONDUALLINGSCHEME

It was in recognition of a truly outstanding entry that GRAHAM Farrans Joint Venture was presented with the Overall Winner Award, sponsored by NI Builder, at the 2021 Construction Excellence Awards for the A6 Randalstown – Castledawson Dualling Scheme project. The £189m flagship project to improve road safety, reduce congestion and improve the journey time for 22,000 vehicles per day on the strategically important transport corridor connecting Belfast and Derry/Londonderry was also awarded the Transport and Utilities Award, sponsored by the Department of Infrastructure, and was described by Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, as a “project that we are rightly proud of.” The A6 Dualling Scheme involved the construction of 14.7km of dual carriageway between Randalstown and Castledawson and over 8km of side roads across both zones. GRAHAM Farrans Joint Venture also completed 21 major structures, including

five compact grade separated junctions, four pedestrian bridges, five underpasses and seven overbridges. In addition, 31 mainline and 14 sideroads, culverts and over 30km of mainline drainage were installed and accommodation works delivered to 132 landowners. Notably, works took place adjacent to the environmentally significant Special Protection Area at Lough Beg, which added a further layer of complexity. Throughout the project, GRAHAM Farrans Joint Venture demonstrated how they were putting the end-user at the heart of operations by utilising VMS signs, Bluetooth technology and Jamlogic software to allow journey times to be monitored, analysed and subsequently communicated to the motorist, alerting them in real time to the traffic conditions ahead. While the judges said the standard of entries for this year’s awards were a real testament to the ability of local construction firms to deliver world-leading projects despite the added challenges presented by Covid-19, the panel agreed that GRAHAM Farrans Joint Venture had really excelled in producing a project that will benefit the Northern Ireland community for many decades to come.

GRAHAM T: +44 (0) 28 9268 9500 E: info@graham.co.uk www.graham.co.uk Farrans T: +44 (0) 2890 551300 E: construct@farrans.com www.farrans.com

22 | NI BUILDER

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For more information on the Construction Employers Federation,

T: (028) 9087 7143 E: mail@cefni.co.uk visit: www.cefni.co.uk

T H E V O I C E O F T H E I N D U S T R Y

Annie Crozier - Heron Bros (Apprentice of the Year).

Woodvale Construction was the deserving winner of the Achieving Excellence in Partnering Award, sponsored by Construction & Procurement Delivery (CPD), for the NDFA Schools Bundle 5 project. This was the fourth win of this year’s CEF awards for Woodvale Construction, an astonishing achievement which the judges said showed how we have local construction firms that through their integrity, hard work and skills can improve the industry image damaged by historic failures. Desmond Scott FCIOB, Chairman Woodvale Construction Company Ltd, said “Winning four separate, independently judged categories is a testament to the consistency and workmanship Woodvale are renowned for across the Island of Ireland and the UK. We are proud of the team and the legacy of award-winning construction projects we are delivering for future generations.” AchievingExcellence in PartneringAward WINNER:WOODVALECONSTRUCTION - NDFASCHOOLSBUNDLE5, CARLOW, KELLS, BRAY&WEXFORD Robert Ewing (Managing Director), Desmond Scott (Chairman).

Apprentice of theYear Award

WINNER: ANNIECROZIER –HERONBROS

The award for Northern Ireland’s Apprentice of the Year 2021, sponsored by Workplus, was Annie Crozier from Heron Bros. Following the completion of her Level 5 Civil Engineering Apprenticeship, Annie is now pursuing a BEng Civil Engineering degree at Ulster University and has developed into a valuable member of the Heron Bros team. She has been described by her employer as someone whose enthusiasm for the job is infectious and who sets themselves apart by continually seeking to improve their knowledge of developing construction technology such as Procore and SustainIQ. Annie has shown a positive approach to career development, proactively completing CPD that will improve her engineering competencies, as well as demonstrating strong leadership and teamwork skills both on site and through providing mentorship to placement and graduate engineers at Heron Bros. The judges were impressed with Annie’s enthusiasm for her job, highlighting the variety of experience which she has achieved in a short time, together with her ability to take on additional responsibilities when required by her employer. Commenting on her win, Annie said “I am absolutely honoured and delighted to have won the CEF Apprentice of the Year. I am very grateful for the opportunities and support Heron Bros have provided me with so far in my career. It is very encouraging to have been recognised for this award and I am excited to see what lies ahead in the future.”

T: +44 (0) 28 8224 2622 - E: info@woodvaleconstruction.co.uk www.woodvaleconstruction.co.uk

T: +44 (0)28 796 28505 E: info@heronbros.com www.heronbros.com

NDFA Schools Bundle 5, Carlow, Kells, Bray & Wexford.

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

NI BUILDER | 23

Jordan Allingham (EHA Group).

Duane McCreadie (Construction Director), Jim Killen (Senior Site Manager).

RisingStar Award

OutstandingContributor Award

WINNER: JORDANALLINGHAM– EHAGROUP

WINNER: JIMKILLEN– SACYRUK

Jordan Allingham from EHA Group was presented with the 2021 Rising Star Award, in a category which recognises an individual who has been in the industry for less than 10 years that has shown innovative thinking, astute business acumen, and who has made a significant contribution to a project or acted as a role model for others in the industry. Jordan has been involved with EHA over several years and in that time has worked his way from site work to management in an extremely humble, productive and constructive way. His team speak of Jordan at the highest level as a fair and inclusive leader, and he has been described as someone who gets involved in every aspect of a project and ensures each person on site feels able to communicate openly throughout the site organisational structure. At only 28, Jordan was able to turn around the highly complex £48m Plymouth Cross project for EHA Group, overcoming significant challenges along the way and demonstrating key skills in relationship management, detailed planning and collaboration with sub-contract teams on site. Recommending him for the Rising Star Award, the judges said Jordan’s determination and drive to succeed in his career, together with his ability to motivate colleagues and take the lead on demanding projects, made him a worthy winner and a clear asset to his employer.

Jim Killen from Sacyr UK was recognised with the Outstanding Contributor Award. At 75, Jim has over 60 years of experience in the construction industry, with the majority of those years working in Northern Ireland. A joiner by trade, Jim was quickly recognised for his leadership qualities and enjoyed a long career with Gilbert-Ash before retiring at 65. However, Jim’s love and passion for the industry soon brought him back to work and, in 2018, he joined Sacyr UK as a Senior Site Manager on the new 16-storey, 70,000m2 Ulster University, Greater Belfast Development. The judges said Jim’s contribution to the construction of many of Northern Ireland’s landmark buildings, including the Stormont Link Buildings, the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and the Waterfront Hall, has been significant and that despite being well past most people’s idea of retirement age, he has retained an important management role in delivering one of the largest construction projects currently taking place in Belfast with the Ulster University development. Awarding him with the 2021 Outstanding Contributor Award, the judges said Jim’s ability to inspire confidence in not only the senior management, but also that of the client and design team, speaks volumes for his knowledge, capability and enthusiasm for both his job and the local construction industry as a whole.

T: +44 (0)28 7181 1634 - E: info@ehagroup.co.uk www.ehagroup.co.uk

www.sacyr.com

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