News

Ward’s Head of Sustainability, Ashley Oates took to the stage in October to support UK Construction Week 2019.

The three-day conference at Birmingham’s NEC is the largest annual gathering of building, construction and built environment organisations in the UK. It brings together all stakeholders within the built environment across design, build and supply; promoting innovation, projects, learning and networking, involving around 35,000 industry professionals.

Representing team Ward and its diverse work within the construction sector, Ashley Oates delivered a keynote presentation on “Climate Change and what the construction industry can do”, chaired by the BBC broadcaster Steph McGovern. Topics covered including plastics and packaging, social value in design, involving the end user in sustainability and considering the lifetime of materials, focusing on design for disassembly and circular economy.

Invited to take part by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS), of which Ashley is on the Service and Performance Committee Board, Ward has been getting increasingly involved in UK Construction Week over the past few years.

CCS is an independent body who work with the construction industry to improve the image of the industry with a particular focus on environment, community and workforce. Last year the CCS invited Ashley along to be part of a panel on the main stage about diversity and inclusion and this year when CSS were asked to open the show, her specialist environmental knowledge was called on again.

Ashley chaired two sessions in the Regeneration Hub, on behalf of CCS, covering the topical industry issues of health and wellbeing in the construction and built environment sector and delivering carbon zero and circular economy solutions to regeneration.

To top it all off, Ashley took to the stage for a final time to collect the trophy for UK Construction Week Construction Supplier of the Year Award, presented by TV personality and Architect, George Clarke. The inaugural UKCW Construction Awards celebrated innovation and excellence for a range of large and small contractors, architects, clients, suppliers and manufacturers serving the construction industry.

The award was given to Ward for its work as leaders, not only in the materials management arena, but also in supporting diversity, community engagement and social value and employee health and wellness.

Ward has worked with Nottingham Express Transit project – the Nottingham Tram – to help evaluate the spoil and aggregate and improve the levels of recycling and reuse whilst also providing a fast and more efficient service. It has also supported nationwide house builders and developers to improve recycling rates and increase their environmental credentials with improved waste management processes.     

In addition, Ward sponsors six community football teams, a local food bank and the local Derbyshire Country Show. The business has donated money and resources to provide living accommodation for ex-offenders as well as refurbished houses for vulnerable women. Bins have been provided to schools and early years settings to help teach children about waste and recycling.

The #UKCW19 accolade is the eighth win and 16^th nomination in the last 18 months, following Ward being announced winners of Family Business Awards, Derby Telegraph Business Awards 2019 company of the Year and Employer of the Year and Business Masters 2019 Large Company of the Year and Family Business of the year.

The UK Construction Week 2019 Awards categories, finalists and winners in full:

Contractor of 2019

• M&O Construction & Civil Engineering
• Navarre London Limited
• Sir Robert McAlpine – WINNER
• Stepnell Limited
• Wates Construction
• Winvic

Construction Client of 2019

• Balfour Beatty
• GF Tomlinson Building Ltd
• Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure
• Scape Group – WINNER
• Wates Construction

Architectural Practice of 2019

• Grimshaw Architects – WINNER
• Hawkins Brown Architects
• HTA Design
• Intervention Architecture
• TODD Architects

House Builder of 2019

• Elite Homes
• Ilke Homes
• Northill Developments
• Swan Housing – WINNER

Construction Supplier of 2019

• Etag Fixings UK
• Purpol Marketing
• Sicuro UK
• TD Construction Testing
• Ward – WINNER

Construction Project of 2019

• AGC Interpane
• BaseStone
• Briggs & Forrester Group
• CEMEX UK Operations
• Royal Opera House – WINNER
• The Deluxe Group

Construction Employer of 2019

• Aylaa Exclusive – WINNER
• DMC Contracts Limited
• Genlec
• Hightown Group
• Novum Structures
• WJL Contracts

Digital Pioneer 2019

• Atkins – WINNER
• CEMEX UK Operations
• Congrid
• MachineMax

Modern Methods of Construction Pioneer 2019

• Berkeley Modular
• Laing O’Rourke
• Mace – WINNER
• Project Etopia
• Swan Housing

Product Innovation Award 2019

• AJC Trailers Limited
• ATC
• Ambar Kelly
• Beresford’s Flooring & Brilliant Ideas
• Congrid
• Converge
• Fischer Fixings UK
• GCP Applied Technologies
• GenAir UK Limited

Industrial Training International UK

• Laing O’Rourke – WINNER
• MachineMax
• Martek Industries
• Redheat Solutions
• ShapeDo