First annual safety awards

6 May 08

Aspire Defence Capital Works held its first annual Safety First Always awards last month. The awards were created to recognise and celebrate the workforce and contractors who have demonstrated their commitment to health and safety as they work on Project Allenby/Connaught to help make soldiers lives better, improving living and working accommodation across the garrisons of Aldershot and Salisbury Plain.

Aspire Defence Capital Works (ADCW) places a high priority on safety across all the construction sites and to help everyone to think Safety First Always – ADCW introduced the monthly and quarterly awards. Throughout the year vouchers are awarded to those lucky enough to be picked from the nominations as a ‘safety winner’ from each of the construction sites.

These individuals and trade contractor companies then go on to the annual awards where the ‘best of the best’ are recognised – and the overall winner receives holiday vouchers to the value of £3,000.

Up to 5,000 people and 90 different organisations have worked with Aspire since the contract began, helping to deliver:

Over 100 demolitions
100 new and refurbished buildings accepted into service
By, on average, 1,550 workers on site each day

Michael Ward, Construction Director said, “We are head and shoulders above the industry norm and through ADCW’s strategy for 2008 we will be one step closer to becoming not just ‘best in class’ but national industry leaders.”

Overall winners

Safety First Always, Individual of the Year 2007 for Tidworth, and the Overall Winner of the Aspire Defence Capital Works, Safety First Always Individual of the Year 2007 – Danny Baldacchino, Hughes and Salvidge

Safety First Always, Trade Contractor of the Year 2007 for Tidworth, and Aspire Defence Capital Works, Safety First Always Trade Contractor of the Year 2007 – winner Corus Living Solutions

Aspire Defence Capital Works, Safety First Always, Project of the Year 2007 – winner Aldershot, accepted by Rhod McGregor (centre) and Mark George (right) and presented by Peter Smart, Chief Executive, Aspire Defence Limited

Aspire Defence Capital Works, Safety First Always Trade Contractor of the Year 2007 – runner-up Dean and Dyball team: l-r Kevin Rutter, Heber Crawford, Marc Pearce, Mark Pattenden

Aldershot winners

Safety First Always, Individual of the Year 2007 for Aldershot – winner Karl Ventre, Corus Living Solutions

Safety First Always, Trade Contractor of the Year 2007 for Aldershot – winner Delta Engineering, accepted by Steve Bidwell

Bulford winners

Safety First Always, Individual of the Year 2007 for Bulford – winner Paul Burton, Construction Supervisor, ADCW, seen here with Mike Boon, Project Director for Salisbury Plain

Safety First Always, Trade Contractor of the Year 2007 for Bulford – winner Raymond Brown Construction Ltd, accepted by Kevin Davis, seen here with Mike Boon, Project Director for Salisbury Plain

Perham Down winners

Safety First Always, Individual of the Year 2007 for Perham Down. This award was shared between the four members of the Dean and Dyball team: (l - r) Kevin Rutter, Heber Crawford, (Mark George, ADCW), Marc Pearce, not pictured Mark Pattenden

Safety First Always, Trade Contractor of the Year 2007 for Perham Down – winner Royden Engineering, accepted by Spencer Griffiths

Warminster winners

Safety First Always, Trade Contractor of the Year 2007 for Warminster – winner A M Sanders, accepted by Geoff Lamb

Environment award winner

Aspire Defence Capital Works, Safety First Always, Environment Award 2007 – winner Bob Gaunt, Dean & Dyball

The organisers

The organisers of the Safety First Always Annual Awards – Michael Ward, Construction Director; Andy Kirk, H&S Manager; Julie Morrison, PA; Paul Dempster, Managing Director, Aspire Defence Capital Works.

And finally …

The ADCW commitment to safety has gained further national recognition recently with the three construction sites of Aldershot, Tidworth and Perham Down being awarded two silver and one bronze award at the Considerate Constructors Awards. This puts Aspire Defence in the top 3% of safe construction employers in the country.