We are very excited to commence works on a new 17,000 sq. m manufacturing facility and office building in Huddersfield for Aflex Hose, a world-leading manufacturer of PTFE-lined flexible hoses.
Howard Civil Engineering were awarded the groundworks package by our client GMI Construction, and will deliver the foundations, drainage works and RC retaining walls for the site at Bradley Park, which is due for completion in April 2020.
This project is particularly challenging due to the steeply sloping existing foundation of the site and pressure to complete works in preparation for the steel erection in week 12, but we are confident that we will surpass our client’s expectations and deliver outstanding results.
The new factory will provide new extrusion lines and processing equipment and hopes to employ 500 people on the site by 2028, increasing Aflex Hose’s production by up to 70%.
Read more about this project here.
Women in Construction Week is a wonderful chance to celebrate Howard Civil Engineering’s hard-working women employees and their contributions to the company. This year, we’re proud to highlight the tremendous work of Lucie Jones, our fantastic Pre-Contracts Manager, and Wanda Curtis, our amazing Health and Safety Advisor.
Lucie Jones, Pre-Contracts Manager (right)
Lucie discovered her passion for civil engineering at the age of sixteen after being invited to visit the site of the Conwy A55 Tunnel as part of the constructors’ community liaison programme, and subsequently went on to study at the University of Manchester. One of only five women on the 120-student course, she squeezed in on-site work placements between her rigorous studies and achieved her degree in Civil and Structural Engineering.
After graduating, Lucie undertook a variety of roles (Setting Out Engineer, Section Engineer, Sub-Agent and Agent) before becoming an Estimator. Lucie excelled in her role and was promoted to Senior Estimator and, finally, Pre-Contracts Manager.
Lucie joined us five years ago as Pre-Contracts Manager, which was an entirely new position at Howard Civil Engineering. ‘I’d heard about Howards and I knew they were a forward-thinking family-owned business,’ Lucie commented. ‘They were looking develop their main contracting arm, and I was looking for a new challenge at the time. It was an exciting opportunity to take on a role that I could really make my own.’
Since starting her journey at Howard Civil Engineering, Lucie has been a driving force in developing the company’s Tier 1 arm and her wealth of experience in road schemes and bid writing has been invaluable. Lucie has also taken on the responsibility of community liaison on schemes such as the Hard Ings Road Improvement scheme for Bradford Council and Germany Beck S278 junction, adopted by York Council, which have both been well received and highly praised by community stakeholders and clients.
Wanda Curtis, Health and Safety Advisor (left)
Wanda entered the construction industry sixteen years ago as a document controller and quickly involved herself in other elements of construction such as estimating, planning and commercial matters before training as a Quantity Surveyor. During her training, Wanda discovered her passion in Health and Safety and instead sought a role as a Health and Safety Consultant. This role included various duties such as Principal Designer, site inspections and producer of in-house training courses.
Discussing her route into her role as Health and Safety Advisor, Wanda commented, ‘Although my route to where I have ended up was not direct and not where I initially planned to be, I do thoroughly enjoy my role. Health and Safety in the workplace is about promoting positive wellbeing as well as preventing injury and illness, and I feel I have opportunity to make the workplace a better and safer environment.’
Wanda joined the SHEQ department of Howard Civil Engineering one year ago as Health and Safety Advisor. ‘Having already had some contact with Howards for conducting onsite inspections, I was aware of the types of works and schemes they were involved with,’ she commented. ‘I came for an interview with Michael Howard (Managing Director) and Andrew Rafton (SHEQ Manager) and heard about the plans to develop and grow the business further, which sounded like something I’d like to get involved with and be part of. I have always relished a challenge! In my role at Howard Civil Engineering, I have plenty of responsibility to help promote positive wellbeing and prevent injury and illness whilst still having opportunity to venture on-site and get my boots muddy,’ she commented. I have also been offered training in new areas to expand my responsibilities, such as Mental Health First Aid Training, which I thoroughly enjoy. Each day presents a new challenge and no two days are the same. It is not a role for everyone, and I wouldn’t have expected to be where I am now when I started my career sixteen years ago, but I certainly wouldn’t change it.’
We have now completed our RC frame on KMRE’s Kirkstall Road development of 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments close to the centre of Leeds.
HCE were employed by our new client, Hollycroft Construction, to deliver the reinforced concrete frame for the 1200m2, ten-storey building and commenced work on the development in April 2018.
Once completed, the development will comprise 111 new PRS (Private Rental Sector) apartments, 2400sq ft of commercial premises, 23 parking spaces and communal areas for residents. Situated in an increasingly popular area of Kirkstall Road, the development will complement nearby businesses such as Napoleon’s Casino and will benefit from a wealth of transport links connecting Kirkstall Road to the city centre and beyond.
Speaking on the complexities that HCE faced when delivering the RC frames for this development, Pre-Construction Director Peter Howard commented, ‘we had to meticulously plan to deliver this project within such a minimal footprint. The limited space available meant we had restricting material storage and laydown areas, but we are thrilled our clients have championed us for exploring alternative methods of construction. With our plant yard located just over 3 miles from this site, we were able to utilise this and make use of the space for prefabricating rebar and making exceptional formwork and falsework.’
Read more about HCE’s involvement in this project here.
Howard Civil Engineering were proud to attend Wates Group’s Supply Chain event last week in support of their award-winning Building Futures programme. Our Health and Safety Advisor, Wanda Curtis, joined a multitude of other businesses in the industry to mock-interview fourteen adult job-seekers with a view to gain long-term employment opportunities for the candidates.
Wates Group’s Building Futures scheme is a two-week programme offering unemployed adults the opportunity to gain key skills needed in the construction industry and put themselves in front of potential employers. For some candidates, the Supply Chain mock-interview was the first time they had ever attended an interview, and feedback was exceptional.
Wanda spoke of the experience and commented on the talent of the individual candidates: ‘Whilst carrying out the interviews, it was interesting to hear the stories behind the individuals and what they have achieved up to that point in their lives. I was hoping to be able to identify a small number of new employees for our rapidly increasing pipeline of work, however I was delighted to find an overwhelming offering of both direct and transferable skills, knowledge and experience amongst the interviewees. It was an enlightening experience to see how something so small could create such a big impact to the lives of those on the scheme.’
We are looking forward to using this experience to aid our ability to grow our team and enhance the quality of our workforce both in our offices and on-site.
Howards Civil Engineering attended this event as part of our ongoing work with Wates Group delivering groundworks at their current York Inpatients Facility site. Read more about this project here.
Two team members of Howard Civil Engineering became qualified Mental Health First Aiders last week at CECA’s regional office in Leeds.
Pre-Contracts Manager Lucie Jones, also a member of our Senior Management Team, and Health and Safety Advisor Wanda Curtis are now qualified to provide support and advice for mental health ill-health both in our offices and on-site.
Mental health in the construction industry has been an increasingly hot topic, with 57% of construction workers reporting poor mental health in a study published by Construction News in 2018.
Speaking on the importance of companies taking responsibility for mental health in the workplace, Lucie Jones commented, ‘In an industry that has historically swept mental health under the carpet, it was refreshing to be in a room full of construction professionals, all there of their own volition, keen to learn how to recognise poor mental health and how to offer support and advice.’
Wanda Curtis emphasised how we are going to move forward as a company to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the construction industry: ‘Through attending the training session, we, as Mental Health First Aiders, can now raise awareness and understanding of mental health and mental ill-health within our company, and help our employees to understand how, when and where to get support. It is our hope that over the coming months we can break the silence and stigma surrounding mental ill-health through promotion of positive wellbeing throughout Howards.’
Howard Civil Engineering are thrilled to offer our support to the young women of Team Echo, one of three teams from Skipton Girls’ High School competing in the final round of the national 4×4 Land Rover In Schools Competition this March.
The 4×4 Land Rover In Schools Technology Challenge requires school children across the country to build a radio controlled four-wheel drive vehicle which will successfully navigate and complete obstacles on an off-road test track.
The ambition of the project is to raise awareness, interest and enthusiasm in engineering through the practical application of Design & Technology, Mathematics and Science and is a fantastic opportunity for these young women to test their knowledge of STEM subjects within a practical context.
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Team Echo won Second Place in the Development Class at the Regional Finals. Left to Right: Scarlett, Erin, Izzy, Elsa, Jennie and Rosa.
Howard Civil Engineering Apprentice, Fahd Mahmood from our Hard Ings Road Scheme, met with these apprentices of the future to hand over £300 to help with expenses over the course of the two-day competition in Coventry. Howard Civil Engineering are delighted to support Skipton Girls’ High School, a high performing engineering academy based in North Yorkshire just 9 miles north of our Hard Ings Road Improvement Contract.
Team Echo placed second in the Regional Finals’ Development Class category in January and are very excited to showcase their extraordinary talent in the upcoming national finals which will test their understanding of the engineering, electronics and suspension of the car in addition to building product portfolios and presenting their product in a personalised pit display.
Commenting on our support of young women in STEM, Pre Contracts Manager Lucie Jones said, ‘Having made this connection with this inspiring school we are looking into what we can offer the girls in the way of insights into careers in our industry, work experience, and practical help into the future.’
TRUST US TO DELIVER YOUR PROJECT ON TIME AND ON BUDGET