Read about the winner and shortlisted entries of this year’s award for Contractor of the Year (up to £500m)
Winner: Reds10
In the last 12 months, Reds10 has progressed its strategy to become a leader in delivery of the government’s programme for net zero carbon, with modular social infrastructure projects manufactured in a regional network of factories. The contractor is working to create local jobs while modelling the principles of the government’s net zero, Construction Playbook and Project Speed agendas. The firm has also focused on its people over the past year, including promoting the importance of mental health through mental health first-aid training and company-wide awareness initiatives. Reds10 has upgraded its procedures with special focus on its induction process, introducing a buddy system to help new starters at the company, and provides mentoring across the business. It has also furthered staff development by partnering with several universities to deliver degree apprenticeships to its staff.
Runners-up
CField Construction
Highlights for the firm over the past year include the £25m conversion of the grade ll-listed Bodmin Jail, a derelict 18th-century prison, into a luxury hotel in Cornwall, and Quayside Lodge in London’s Fulham, a £41m, 10-storey, mixed-use building with 110 apartments, a gym and a cinema room along with commercial space. The contractor has worked hard through the pandemic to maintain staff salaries, award bonuses and continue to hire in preparation for an increased volume of work, ensuring team readiness to deliver secured work in 2022/23. It has also worked to garner strong client satisfaction, with 72% of UK turnover in 2022 coming from returning customers. CField’s chief executive meets with clients every quarter to receive feedback, while all clients complete a satisfaction survey.
Durkan
In the year to April 2022, Durkan supported its public sector partners across London and the South-east on more than 19 projects, worth around £127m. These have ranged from new-build homes to the regeneration and conversion of period and commercial properties. The contractor’s success has seen it earn a repeat business level of 85% among its public sector client base. It aims to double its turnover to £250m in the next three years. Durkan targets continuous improvement and takes a risk-reduction based approach to health and safety – with a focus on mental health. This has led the contractor to sign a charter with the Lighthouse Club to make more training and resources available to its staff and supply chain.
Glencar
Glencar’s project portfolio includes some of the most innovative industrial developments in the UK. The contractor is approaching completion of the first dedicated vaccines manufacturing facility in the country, with the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre at Harwell science campus in Oxfordshire. Recently completed projects include one of the most sustainable logistics developments ever built in the UK: Baytree’s Fenny Lock scheme in Milton Keynes. Sustainability is at the heart of the company operationally too, as seen through its recently achieved Planet Mark certification for business operations, which means committing to a year-on-year reduction of 10% corporate carbon emissions over the next three years. Glencar has ongoing experience of delivering net zero carbon buildings for its clients, working under the UK Green Building Council whole-life carbon assessment methodology.
JLES Group
JLES is a nationwide infrastructure specialist, dealing with road and sewer adoptions on a consult and construct basis for its commercial and housebuilder clients. Over the past 17 years the firm has taken pride in its customer satisfaction levels, and currently holds a 9.5 out of 10 client satisfaction score based on its customer satisfaction surveys, which are reviewed monthly. The contractor is also committed to ensuring that the residents of homes on its projects are satisfied, communicating with homeowners through Facebook groups, letter drops and door‑to‑door communications. In recognition of the challenges emerging in the construction industry, JLES has improved staff retention by restructuring the business to provide employees with increased opportunities and remuneration. It has doubled the number of its trainees and apprentices, bringing more talented people into the industry and future-proofing its business.
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