SCF celebrates contractor achievements with annual award ceremony
On the 29th May 2024, we welcomed contractors across the framework to Morgan Sindall’s Overbury offices in London to take part in our annual awards. This was not just a celebration of the individual achievements of contractors, but also how the framework has contributed collectively to SCF’s most successful first quarter to date.
Janara Singh, Assistant Framework Manager, opened the event, and spoke about the number of submissions for the awards and the significant achievements over the last generation, including the completion of five innovations.
Over the last year, SCF has welcomed new contractors including Bouygues UK, John Graham Construction, Tilbury Douglas, VINCI Construction and Bowmer & Kirkland, and has 39 total projects running through generation five, totalling £908m to date. We also have one project on site, and have achieved 13% added value, up 3% from generation four.
While our latest market intelligence report has found that build costs are continuing to rise, with an average increase of 2.3%, tender workload increased by an average of 3.2% in the first quarter of the year, showing pipelines are still relatively strong. SCF is therefore positive that despite challenges, once interest rates begin to decrease, contractors will see even greater success as the year continues.
Project of the Year: Winterstoke Hundred Academy (Kier)
Contractor of the Year: Kier
The first award, presented by Adam Sanford was Project of the Year, for Kier’s Winterstoke Hundred Academy expansion, a joint secondary school project between North Somerset Council and Kier Group. Taking place during the pandemic, this faced various challenges throughout, including an uneven site with differing storey heights. This required an innovative solution including split building design, with a retaining wall and a separate sports building. This was also awarded the Positive Environmental Legacy award, achieving a biodiversity net gain of 30%, incorporating native planting and compensatory habitat schemes.
The SCF team was particularly impressed by the project’s approach to social value, delivering various benefits including 376 waged training weeks on-site, 39 qualifications earned, 29 work placements, 22 new jobs created, 45 hours of volunteering, and 20 career and guidance events. Kier also received the Contractor of the Year award.
Social Value Innovation: Knowledge Quad – Morgan Sindall
Second up was the Social Value Innovation Award, awarded to Morgan Sindall for their Knowledge Quad, a multi-purposed training and learning facility based onsite at Paddington Village. This innovation created facilities for classroom, digital and outdoor learning, enabling users to develop a range of skills to support both personal and professional development.
