Construction and Engineering Awards 2020

BUILD Construction & Engineering Awards 2020 Construction & Engineering Awards 2020 BUILD 26 27 Aug20340 Best Construction & Civil Engineering Company - North East England stablished by brothers, Gary and Joseph Hughes, Hughes Bros Construction work across the North East and Yorkshire in offices in Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Leeds, alongside clients in the housing, leisure, commercial, industrial and retail sectors. To start, Ian provides us with a brief overview of the firm, offering more insight into its typical clientele. “The business mainly started with one-off projects, including high specifications with blue chip clients carrying out call outs to damages along with any building maintenance work. The firm then went on to win a prestigious site for David Wilson Homes in Jesmond, Newcastle, placing in deep drainage, road works and refurbishment of existing stone buildings, including underpinning works to various buildings. The scheme was finished with the undertaking of various hard and soft landscaping works and from there, the company’s relationship with Barratt/David Wilson Homes took off. “Joining the company as Construction Director, I had already established myself working with various clients in the North East and especially Barratt Homes NE, having carried out work for previous employers for over 15 years. Naturally, this made my decision to work with Hughes Bros Construction Ltd a very easy one. “Since 2015, we have grown the number of sites we have with Barratt NE to eleven across North East England and a further five sites with Barratt Yorkshire East. Currently, we are working for Miller Homes NE, Avant Homes NE, Story Homes Newcastle, Gentoo Homes Sunderland, and MJ Gleeson Homes PLC, with around twenty-four live sites consisting of remediation of brown field sites, along with retaining structures. “Typically, we carry out all aspects of deep drainage and carry out full road and sewer packages, including surface water storage systems and SUD’s. Additionally, we have multiple plot-work gangs to carry out all aspects of this type of work throughout North East England and North Yorkshire, along with a full adoptions team to carry out remedial works for various clients to take schemes into adoption stages.” Prior to undertaking a new project, there are numerous considerations for the firm to explore, particularly ones which may have an external impact, as Ian explains further. Based in Teesside, Hughes Bros Construction Ltd is an industry leading company which has been handling projects for the public and private sectors since 2005. Following their success in the Construction & Engineering Awards 2020, we got in touch with Ian Pallas to find out more about the award-winning work it effortlessly provides. E “The first approach is to make sure we consider what and when our client requires certain parts of the site back to commence their build. From here, we produce a build strategy and work our programme around this. Before any work commences on site, we visit the work area and investigate the impact on wildlife and the environment, as well as on any local homes and businesses. “Naturally, we will also discuss and agree on how we can secure the site and make sure the works area is safe from the public and trespassers. All members of staff and Directors are then involved in an in-house pre-start meeting, in which we will discuss all aspects of Health and Safety and welfare, before agreeing on a commencement date.” Overcoming challenges is nothing new to Hughes Bros Construction and as Ian goes on to explain, in one of the firm’s recent projects at Gentoo Homes Sunderland, the team had to fully call upon their vast industry experience and expertise. “Many of our current sites have had to overcome construction issues, however the one that springs to mind is the full package scheme we had for Gentoo Homes Sunderland. As an old council estate called Pennywell Estate in Sunderland, it had stood empty for over twelve years. “Removing all contaminated material from site by way of controlled and outside monitoring via an outside engineering company, we then carried out the removal of all existing roads and sewers along with the diversion works of existing combined sewers due to the surrounding estates still being lived in. Additionally, we crushed all materials on site to allow stone to be re-tested and re-used in the scheme, preventing environmental issues of wagons removing material from site. A full external remediation strategy had to be followed, including full chemical testing of all materials where it was re-used and a full cut/fill application to the site. Unfortunately, we had part validation passed off because works could only progress so far, as there was a high voltage cable running through the centre of the site that we identified and fenced off until diversion works were carried out by our client. Once completed, we will be able to complete the full remediation works and achieve full validation for the scheme. “Having constructed and completed the two SUD’s storage ponds including headwall connections, we also carried out a full roads and sewers package on the scheme, putting in all new drains, tarmac roads, and footpaths.” The UK construction industry is an extremely competitive one to operate in, however as Ian points out, the firm has a rather unique selling point which they are able to offer their clients. “All directors take a hands-on approach, so we are always very close to each scheme. By setting high standards and putting Health and Safety first, we care about what we do and are always looking to improve. Standing still would result in us being no better than our competitors and that is not what we want to do. If we strive to improve on what we have already achieved, then there is every chance the business will grow with each opportunity.” Finally, Ian comments on the future prospects of Hughes Bros Construction as he looks ahead to the remainder of 2020 and beyond. “Having invested massive amounts already, and continually since lockdown, on machines, plant and more, we are well prepared for what lies ahead. North East England always endures tougher times than most, but as a company, you have to face both positive and negative issues. Moreover, with new schemes commencing at Elwick Hartlepool and New Hartley Whitley Bay for Barratt Homes NE, these are exciting times.” The firm also has a new scheme of R&S alongside Plot-works to twelve plots on first release commencing on Barley Gate 3 site Birtley Gateshead for Avant Homes NE this month. Ian also says, ‘we are in discussions with a few of our other clients as they all look forward to a good build in 2021’. Company: Hughes Bros Construction Ltd Contact: Ian Pallas Web Address: www.hughesbros.ltd