Have a read of our Summer 2024 newsletter, featuring…
✈ More Updates On LBA
🙌 Steve Dakin Celebrates 14 Years at HCE
🌐 Our Brand New Website Is Here
🏫 Discussing Woldgate School & Sixth Form College
🌍 How We’re Celebrating World Environment Day
…And More!
September 10th officially marks World Suicide Prevention day. While this should always been an open topic of discussion, having a dedicated day where we can band together and truly acknowledge it is crucial.
As a construction business, we feel especially obligated to recognise the drastically higher rates of suicide among our industry. The Office for National Statistics reports that workers in construction are four times more likely to take their own lives, and as such we place a much larger responsibility on ourselves to ensure we promote mental health awareness.
This Wednesday (11th) at 10am, members of the Andy’s Man Club will be paying a visit to our head office in Leeds to deliver a presentation; they’ll discuss in more detail the work they do, how they can help, as well as more generally promote an environment where people can be open about their struggles. Despite their name, this talk open to all members of our team, and we encourage any and all of our staff to attend if they can.
We also have our own Mental Health First Aider team members: staff who are equipped with the necessary training to provide that initial support, and point you in the right direction – all with the guarantee of complete confidentiality.
Finally, we would be remiss to not mention the Lighthouse Construction Charity: a group dedicated to providing support to members of this industry. To get in touch with their helpline, simply call 0345 605 1956, or text HARDHAT to 85258.
We’ve talked a lot about our commitment to equal opportunity employment, and the ways in which we go about this. One such method is through the ROTL – Release On Temporary License – programme.
Last year, we spoke to Kiel Tetley, who joined us through said programme before HCE offered him a full-time position following his release from prison. Kiel spoke highly of his experience; how it improved his mental health and confidence, upskilled him, and allowed him to enjoy family life. He recommended others to “jump at the chance” should they be given the opportunity to participate in the programme, which we couldn’t be happier to hear.
Since then, we have been pleased to welcome more of those involved in the ROTL programme into our business to work alongside us. One such example is Adam Wilson, who joined through HMP Hatfield as a Site Manager, and went on to thrive in his role. Our Sustainability Manager Sophie Henderson recently spoke to Adam to gauge his thoughts on his time with us, as well as how he feels about the ROTL programme as a whole…
Adam has been at HCE for six weeks now. When asked about his experience so far, he noted the friendly, helpful and accommodating nature of our workforce, which has reinforced his desire to relocate and stay with us following his release from prison later this year.
Speaking about the ROTL programme, and how it benefited him personally, he highlighted the opportunity it provided him to re-enter our industry, save money, in addition to more generally getting him back into the swing of things and progressing.
Similarly to Kiel, we asked Adam if he would recommend the ROTL programme to others. “Definitely,” he told us, “it gives you the chance to feel like a normal person, and the potential to go back to what you were doing prior, or a learn a completely new skill”. Adam also mentioned the comfort of being able to leave prison with a job secured, and the stability that provides.
Finally, Adam was asked where he sees himself in the future. To that, he stated his desire to become a Contracts or Project Manager, staying with HCE long term. He mentioned that the most important thing to him was feeling as though he was at the right company, and for him, that was us.
Outside of his ROTL work, Adam volunteers by attending schools, where he educates children about prison, and being the best version of yourself. It’s clear to us that he is dedicated, passionate, and a valuable asset to our workforce, and we look forward to seeing where his career takes him. A huge thank you to Adam for speaking with us, and we extend our best wishes as he continues to progress in our field.
Speaking on the value of the ROTL programme, HCE Contracts Manager Steve Dakin had this to say: “The ROTL scheme has quickly become an invaluable resource avenue for us. Adam joins us with a wealth of experience, and has quickly become an integral part of the team.
We are pleased to have worked with 6 operatives through ROTL so far – all of which have demonstrated an excellent work ethic and a real determination to learn and improve their skills. As a result, we have been able to offer full-time employment and further training to operatives on their release, with more planned for the very near future.”
July 15th marks the UN’s World Youth Skills Day. It’s crucial that we recognise the importance of handing down the skills we often take for granted to the next generation, as it’s ultimately them who will guide us forward into the future.
This year’s theme is “Youth Skills for Peace & Development”, which highlights the need to equip our youth with the necessary skills for fostering a more inclusive and sustainable future. To us, this begs an immediate question: what are we doing to help?
When it comes to nurturing a supportive and inclusive workplace, we’ve made strides to ensure this is consistently the case. Our Disability Confident Committed (DCC) employer status highlights our commitment to creating an accessible recruitment process and supportive work environment no matter what.
We also make it no secret that supporting apprentices and graduates is of paramount importance to us. Since our founding over twenty years ago, we have taken in dozens of them, and provided experience both on and off-site to give them the knowledge they need to thrive in our industry. Many apprentices and graduates who spend time working with our business go on to find successful careers here at Howards, and we’re proud to staff a workforce where many of them take lead roles on our various schemes across the country.
We also take great measures to ensure the work we perform is done as sustainably as possible, and have continually adopted this as a guiding principle behind everything we do. Promoting these practices now means a cleaner, more environmentally friendly future for those who come after us, and sets an example that we are confident the next generation will take on themselves to create a better planet for everyone.
After celebrating his 14th anniversary at Howard Civil Engineering in April, Steve Dakin was recently promoted to Contracts Manager – a testament to his dedication to the construction field. To recognise these significant milestones, we spoke to Steve to discuss his career journey, the experiences that shaped his path, the challenges he has overcome, and more…
Firstly, could you walk us through your career in the construction industry; where did you begin, and how did you get involved with HCE?
I first started working in the construction industry at the age of 19. I had just completed an engineering course at a local college that gave me exposure to electrical, mechanical, and civil engineering – when I completed the course, I was sure that I wanted to go down the civil engineering route, so a family member who was a machine operator/groundworker offered me a position as a labourer.
Your journey from Labourer to Contracts Manager is undoubtedly impressive – could you give us some insight into your 14-year career at HCE?
I first joined HCE when the team I was with was offered work at York University. Before starting with HCE, I had previously worked for much smaller companies, so I was immediately impressed with the structure and ethos that HCE possessed. From there, our team progressed within the company, visiting various projects along the way until we were offered work elsewhere by another company. While my team made the decision to move on. I decided to stay with HCE.
In 2015, I was asked If I would like to become a site supervisor, and after some deliberation, I decided to take the plunge. Over the next few years, I was progressively given training, support, and guidance by the wider HCE management team. This allowed me to move into site management, project management, and contract management in a relatively short amount of time.
What is it about your job that you’re most passionate about?
I’m passionate about helping our younger colleagues achieve their goals by assisting them as much as possible in learning their trade. If it wasn’t for the help and assistance I was offered during my career, there would be no way I could have progressed to the position I now hold. It’s really rewarding to do the same for others; seeing them apply the knowledge that you have helped them develop, and watching them progress and improve in their own career paths.
What kind of challenges have you faced throughout your career, and how have you overcome these?
I think all the progress you make comes with its own specific challenges and responsibilities. But if you commit yourself to what you are doing, and you have a real drive and determination to learn and improve, you will undoubtedly do well. I have also never been afraid to ask questions; if you don’t ask the questions, you will never get the answers.
How do you think the overall industry has changed since you began? Do you think things have progressed in the right direction?
The industry has improved massively during my career. The fact that we are now utilising systems such as Field View, My Training Passport, as well as HAVS watches as part of our day-to-day routine, are all huge steps in the right direction. I’m also proud of the fact that, as a company, we are driven to seek out the latest innovations and improvements, in addition to putting so much consideration into social values and environmental sustainability.
Is there any advice you’d give to those looking for a career in this industry?
The construction industry is an extremely interesting and rewarding sector to work in – one that is full of knowledgeable people. Listen as much as you can, ask as many questions as you can, and push yourself to do the very best you can with every task you are given. If you have the right attitude, self-motivation, and a willingness to learn, there is no end to how far you could progress.
A huge thanks to Steve for taking the time to answer these questions for us – this kind of insight is invaluable, and we take great pride in being able to share it. If you’re interested in a career here at Howard’s, be sure to visit our careers page today by clicking here.
June 5th marks World Environment Day, a worldwide event that recognises the crucial role of preserving our natural world. This year’s theme focuses on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience, championed by the UN under the hashtag #GenerationRestoration.
Tackling This Year’s Environmental Theme
At Howard Civil Engineering, we deeply value our environment, and continuously strive to work in the cleanest and most efficient manner possible. Our commitment extends beyond our projects; we eagerly support organisations dedicated to environmental preservation. One such partnership is with St Nicks, a remarkable group we teamed up with in April to bolster their restoration and preservation efforts.
St Nicks, based in York, manages a 24-acre nature reserve, open to the public year-round. Their Green Corridors initiative is particularly inspiring, as it aims to reconnect and restore green spaces across York, fostering thriving habitats for key species. This summer, we’ll be embarking on more work alongside St Nicks, so keep an eye out!
Our Broader Efforts
Our involvement with St Nicks is just one facet of our broader environmental initiatives for 2024. For instance, where possible we opt to use IBAA (Incinerator Bottom Ash aggregate) instead of primary aggregates. On one project alone we’ve saved over 44,000kg of CO2 (an impressive 6.47 kg/t), and we’re just getting started.
Since the start of the year, we’ve offset nearly 200,000 litres of fuel, equating to over 500 tonnes of CO2e. Our investment in solar panels at our head office in Leeds has also been immensely beneficial, saving the CO2 equivalent of planting 33 trees. Additionally, we utilise solar CCTV and ECO welfare wherever possible, and recycle 96% of our construction and excavation waste, significantly reducing landfill contributions.
A Commitment To Sustainability Education
Moreover, we’re committed to educating the next generation about sustainable practices, in particular advocating for a circular economy. This model emphasises sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling materials and products for as long as possible. With the current environmental challenges our planet faces, imparting this foundational knowledge to school children is vital.
We invite you to join us this year in making a difference, whether through small actions like separating your recyclables, or larger efforts such as supporting local groups like St Nicks. Every contribution counts – it all adds up!
To learn more about St Nicks and the work they do, click here. For more about our ongoing sustainability efforts, click here.
TRUST US TO DELIVER YOUR PROJECT ON TIME AND ON BUDGET