Howard Civil Engineering is pleased to announce that we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and received the Bronze Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).
This demonstrates our commitment to supporting serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and military families, and highlights our dedication to encouraging the employment of service leaders, reservist employees, and those aspiring to join the reserves service within Howard Civil Engineering.
The ERS recognises commitment and support from UK employers for defence personnel, and encourages employers to support defence and inspire other organisations to do the same.
We look forward to working with the Armed Forces to reduce the skills gap in the construction industry.
It was wonderful to meet with potential future engineers at Roundhay School’s STEM event last week!
Abbie and Ewan advised school students aged 13-18 on what steps they should take after leaving school, and informed them of the many options available in the civil engineering and construction industry
Since the event, the school has informed us that:
- 94% of pupils said it made them think about their career interests and aspirations
- 100% said it increased their understanding of the different roles available
- 85% said they are now considering a specific career in the Manufacturing & STEM sector
- 88% said it has inspired them to consider an apprenticeship
- Students said our visitors were approachable, very informative and boosted their self-belief
We are thrilled to be broadening the minds of young people in Leeds, and hopefully inspiring them to consider a career in civil engineering. Could we have met with a future member of the Howard Civil Engineering team at this fair? Watch this space!
When apprentice groundworker James French attended his final few lessons of the academic year at Leeds College of Building, he wasn’t expecting to be publicly commended – much less named General Construction Operations Apprentice of the Year!
James, who joined us 18 months ago on our Skipton Road site, has been recognised by Leeds College of Building for to his outstanding dedication to his studies and his eagerness to make the most of his time on site at Howard Civil Engineering.
He was presented with the award at Leeds College of Buildings’ prestigious awards ceremony, held last week at Leeds United’s Centenary Pavilion. The event celebrated the success of students over the 2021/2022 academic year.
Commenting on James’ outstanding performance, his tutor Steven Pritchard said: “James has 100% attendance whilst at Leeds College of Building. He has constructed a very strong site evidence portfolio and has performed well on his mock EPA assessments.”
“James is also very well-liked by his group,” Steven continued. “He will often dedicate his time to assist others.”
James’ hard work and team spirit hasn’t gone unnoticed at Howard Civil Engineering, with contract manager James Page commending his attitude on site and his growth over the past 18 months: “It is fantastic to hear the positive news that James has been awarded General Construction Operations Apprentice of the Year from the UK’s only college dedicated to construction and the built environment,” he said. “From day one, he has demonstrated a keen and admirable interest in all aspects of groundworks and this award is very well deserved.”
Managing director Michael Howard also praised James’ recent award: “Our successful apprenticeship programme has produced several highly skilled and qualified members of the construction industry over the last 19 years, and I am thrilled to hear that James has been recognised for his hard work and his keen ambition,” he said.
“At only 20 years old, James is already a shining example of how Howard Civil Engineering’s apprenticeship programme is helping to shape the future of construction in and around Yorkshire.”
James is still working on our Skipton Road housing development site in Harrogate, on which we are delivering an £11m road and sewers package for United Living. But what does the future hold for him? Engineer Hayden Brook, who has been working alongside James in recent months, said the future looks bright for James.
“James has worked on both drainage and external works and has found he enjoys the external works side of groundworks,” he said. “He would like to progress further in this area, and I have every confidence he will find success. He is a hard-working individual who is keen to learn all areas of groundworks and progress in the construction industry, and he takes guidance well – especially when working alongside our more experienced groundworkers. There’s definitely a bright future ahead for James!”
While he is a familiar face around our head office, colleagues on site may not be as well acquainted with assistant accountant Tom Mitchell.
Tom started his career with Howard Civil Engineering two and a half years ago, just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic which he feels has been an important catalyst for the conversation surrounding mental health.
Why you became a Mental Health First Aider:
While I’m comfortable talking about my own struggles with poor mental health now, there was a time I didn’t talk to anyone. I bottled it up and eventually I just couldn’t help but get it out. Now, if someone approached me, I’ll talk openly about it and hope that my experiences can help them navigate their own struggles.
People find it uncomfortable to talk but as soon as you realise how common it is, it isn’t as daunting. I’ve found that as soon as one person starts talking about it, it’s like a domino effect, whether it’s an ‘oh yeah, I had something similar’ or ‘my daughter’s going through the same thing’.
I think it’s so important to help people find a safe space for them to talk about the realities of mental illness. The statistic that one in two people have problems with poor mental health isn’t a scare factor statistic, it’s a sad reality – if I can open up, maybe I can help someone else to open up too. Being an ear for someone to talk to and pointing them in the right direction to get proper help isn’t going to solve all their problems, but it’s an important first step and it helps them feel like they’re not alone.
Why it’s so important to break down the stigma of poor mental health in construction:
I’ve had friends who have killed themselves because they felt they didn’t have anyone to talk to for fear of being judged, which is why I think companies introducing mental health first aiders is so important.
I found that once you get over that first barrier of talking to someone and having non-judgemental people that you can talk about it with, you can talk freely about it. Men in particular struggle with this statistically, and construction is still a male-dominated industry. I think the Covid-19 pandemic really set the wheels in motion on mental health awareness in general, but there is still a stigma in construction.
I do think there should be more MHFAs on sites, but it’s great that companies such as Howard Civil Engineering are taking positive steps to raise awareness of how to recognise symptoms of poor mental health and offer support for those who are struggling.
How you look after your own mental health:
I’m really into sports – if I’m not playing, I’m watching it! I’m part of the five-a-side team we have at work, and I’m into golf as well.
I like taking part in the charity fundraising activities we do across the company, such as Tough Mudder and the Yorkshire Three Peaks, and I always try and do my bit where I can as it makes me feel good.
When I need to properly relax, I do like to sit down and watch a good tv show – I’m currently rewatching Game of Thrones in preparation for the new House of the Dragon series!
While many of us were enjoying the last of the summer sun over the August bank holiday weekend, SHEQ manager Andy Rafton was climbing Ben Nevis with his sons to raise money for charity.
Having already climbed Mount Snowdon and Scafell Pike, Andy decided to raise money for charity whilst checking Ben Nevis off his bucket list – and raised over £1,100 for The Howarth Foundation!
The Howarth Foundation helps people from chaotic backgrounds get back onto the right path and into employment, and we are pleased to say Howard Civil Engineering has hired multiple candidates from the charity’s Business Building Futures programme.
Andy and his three sons took only 7 hours and 13 minutes to reach the summit of the highest mountain in the United Kingdom which stands 1,345m above sea level. Amazing work, well done everyone!
Want to show Andy your support? There’s still time to donate here.
Want to learn more about The Howarth Foundation?
Here’s how Dominic’s life was transformed after The Howarth Foundation found him a new job as a groundworker with Howard Civil Engineering.
Howard Civil Engineering is expanding our growing fleet of plant machinery with the purchase of 36 new Komatsu excavators!
Six new Komatsu PC210LC-11E0 excavators, the first of the new purchases to arrive, have recently been delivered to two large projects in York and Sunderland.
These 20-tonne excavators feature a powerful Komatsu EU Stage V engine, Komatsu’s Closed Centre Load Sensing (CLSS) hydraulic system and first-class Komatsu comfort to provide a fast response and unrivalled productivity for its class.
These excavators are the latest machines to join Howard Civil Engineering’s growing fleet of Stage V plant following a recent delivery of six new Kobelco SK13013-tonne excavators and 11 new Doosan excavators ranging from five to 14 tonnes in size.
We are expecting more deliveries of a new D61 dozer and at least 10 excavators from Marubeni-Komatsu over the next 12 months, and we have also purchased new trucks and trailers to assist with the transportation of plant between sites.
While our new DAF XF530 truck unit has already arrived, we are eagerly awaiting the delivery of a Faymonville MAX 4 axle trailer and a DAF CF450 with a max length cheesewedge. These trailers will allow us to easily transport payloads of up to 45 and 18 tonnes respectively.
Managing director Michael Howard says this investment highlights Howard CivilEngineering’s ongoing commitment to health, safety, and sustainability.
“Howard Civil Engineering has long been the contractor of choice for several prestigious clients across the north of England, and the purchase of these new machines is an indication of our commitment to ensuring we continue to deliver quality work efficiently, safely, and with consideration to the local environment,” he said.
“This £5m upgrade of our fleet also forms an integral part our ambitious growth plan,” he continued. “Howard Civil Engineering has already secured a significant amount of work ahead of our next financial year, which should see our turnover surpass £50m. I am positive that this investment will help the company achieve new heights of both stakeholder satisfaction and commercial success.”
Sean Philbin, area manager at Marubeni-Komatsu, said, “This latest machine order is a testimony to this success and Howard Civil Engineering’s commitment of having a modern fleet at their disposal – enabling fuel savings, minimizing environmental impact where possible and maximising efficiency through choosing Komatsu technology.
“[Howard Civil Engineering has] ensured the company is future proofed and we look forward to a continued relationship where we can help support their vision and ensure we provide the support they need to continue their success.”
In addition to the new Stage V engines, Howard Civil Engineering is also rolling out several environmentally friendly initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and increase sustainability.
These include our recent relocation into a brand-new energy efficient head office in Seacroft, Leeds, the utilisation of HVO fuel, and the rolling out of eco-welfare units on our sites.
TRUST US TO DELIVER YOUR PROJECT ON TIME AND ON BUDGET