Grapevine ISSUE 15 WINTER 2015
Inside New Performing Arts Centre Winton Primary School opening event Stratford Girls’ Grammar
Royal visit Latest project news and more...
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
Reflecting on 2015 2015 was a very busy year for the Stepnell Group. We had some fantastic wins and handed over some amazing projects to satisfied customers. We also provided a service beyond construction, marking us out from our competitors, and allowing customers to meet tight timetables, changing scenarios or to satisfy their community targets. 2015 also saw a new Brackley commercial property venture supported and the completion of the acquisition of EvoEnergy.
yet to meet. Stepnell’s reputation is for quality delivered at a fair price and it requires everyone from the Bricklayer to the Directors; from site to office staff to meet that challenge by identifying what they can do to meet our customers’ needs. In this way we are all salesmen or women for our company and we are all responsible for ensuring our collective pride in our service. As we enter 2016 it is heartening to see more opportunities. However, competition remains fierce as new contractors enter our markets and our traditional customer base continues to change. It remains challenging to win and then deliver schemes for customers who are watching every penny and yet want the full Stepnell service. 2015 saw a great deal of change and I do not anticipate that the rate will slow. The message for this year is to identify and manage your change effectively so that you can continue to provide the right level of service to enhance our reputation profitably.
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome so many new staff to the Stepnell Group.”
There can be little doubt that construction continues to get more complicated at every level as our industry emerges into what may be called a normal environment. Our basic commitment to quality is the entry level expectation, covering design and delivery. The consequence for our supply chain partners is that they need to be the best for the job. Even more time is now spent selecting and managing our subcontractors and suppliers as they can significantly affect our performance and hence reputation.
As we tackle new opportunities and better manage some of the risks of construction we continue to recruit. It gives me great pleasure to welcome so many new staff to the Stepnell Group and I look forward to meeting those I have
I wish you all a belated happy New Year and a successful 2016 Mark Wakeford Joint Managing Director
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
New Performing Arts Centre at Rendcomb College The West Midlands team have been appointed by Rendcomb College in Gloucestershire to build a brand new Performing Arts Centre. Site Manager Darren Bright and team have recently started work on the £2.6m contract to construct the leading edge facility for the co-educational independent boarding and day school at Rendcomb near Cirencester. The new centre, which will be mainly used for school productions and teaching, will feature a 350 seat auditorium. an atrium / foyer area; dance and theatre studio. teaching room and costume and prop store rooms. Its position and design have been carefully chosen to complement and respect the neighbouring listed buildings, which include Grade I listed St Peter’s Church and the surrounding landscape.
“This building will be a fitting centrepiece to the school as we approach our centenary, and will enhance the lives and educational opportunities for all our pupils.” Rob Jones, Headmaster Rendcomb College,
The centre will be built in the natural stone which is characteristic of the local area as well as timber, including external red cedar cladding, and glass. A living sedum ‘green’ roof will deliver improved thermal performance and promote biodiversity, providing a habitat for wildlife such as bees, butterflies and insects. The new Performing Arts Centre is expected to be complete in August 2016.
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
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Pupils and staff from Winton Primary School in Oswald Road, Bournemouth, joined Stepnell, members of Bournemouth Borough Council and TV’s Bob the Builder production designer and author, Curtis Jobling, to celebrate the opening of a new £1.7m school extension. The much needed new teaching facility is part of a major expansion programme which has created an extra 210 student places, transforming the former 630 pupil school from three form to four form entry status. Our Poole Office worked with Winton Primary School and Bournemouth Borough Council to deliver the new 800m2 single storey extension which provides a small hall, drama studio, music room, four classrooms, an office and supporting accommodation. The school’s car park and drop off facilities have also been improved.
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The school helped raise money for the project through their Buy-a-Brick campaign which generated £500. Associates of the school, including ex-pupils and teachers, were invited to sponsor and engrave a brick and lay it in the wall of the new extension. Winton Primary School head teacher Neil Tarchetti says: “We are delighted with the finished expansion and excited by the enhanced learning environment it offers to our pupils. They now have a first rate setting in which to learn.”
Deputy Leader, Councillor Nicola Greene, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, says: “It’s fantastic to see the expansion work completed and the enhancement to the facilities at Winton Primary School. The expansion works form part of the Council’s plans to increase the number of primary school places in Bournemouth in order to help meet the continuing demand.”
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
£3.5m facilities unveiled Students and staff at Stratford Girls’ Grammar School were joined by our Rugby Site Manager Ian Tomes, Quantity Surveyor Colin Darch and Contracts Manager Paul Charnock to celebrate the official opening of the Stratfordupon-Avon school’s new £3.5m facilities. VIP guest, award winning journalist and broadcaster Emma Barnett opened the new Hargreaves Building, named after British mountaineer Alison Hargreaves. The new building houses a brand new dining room and kitchen, full size sports hall, fitness suite and changing rooms, drama studio, classrooms and offices as well as the school’s new look assembly hall which has been comprehensively refurbished. The single storey and two storey development, designed by Warwick based Brown Matthews Architects, was completed on schedule in August 2015, ready for the start of the autumn term, following a year-long programme of construction work by Stepnell.
“I would like to express our appreciation for the work you have done - and in particular a special mention for the efforts your Site Manager Ian Tomes has put in over these past months.” Paul Day, Business Manager - Stratford Girls’ Grammar School
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
New life in old things Specialist Wood Machinist, Tim Davenport from our in house joinery department is hard at work refurbishing the doors for Grade II* listed Magdalen College. Renovating the doors takes time, precision and a keen eye for detail. Tim begins the repair process by inserting wood into any necessary sections that are unrecoverable. He then cleans down the doors before applying a clear wax and rub. To finish, Tim adds a dark wax and rubs it down to enhance the shine. The Wantage office is currently on site extending, refurbishing and re-roofing the 1850s Victorian building which was converted into a library in 1932.
“The best part is seeing the end result of what my hard work has achieved.” Tim Davenport, Wood Machinist - Stepnell
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
Royal links! Princess Anne was among those paying her respects to the fallen during Armistice Day. After the prestigious ceremony a parade was held outside our National Memorial Areboretum site ,where our Rugby team are working to transform the existing Remembrance Centre into a contemporary design. Princess Anne was greeted by our Project Manager John Neill. She asked about the progress and enthused about the scheme and what it would bring to the world-renowned Arboretum. Less than a year ago, our Wantage team completed the Hayward Centre, a new Order of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) facility specialising in dementia care in Devizes. The Centre was officially opened by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. The event, which was attended by staff, residents and special guests, was marked by the Prince unveiling a special commemorative plaque and signing the visitor’s book. The new Hayward Care Centre in Corn Croft Lane was named after local Devizes hero, Reginald Hayward, who served in the 1st Battalion the Wiltshire Regiment during the First World War.
Project Updates
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
Here’s a roundup of the latest project news from around the business Rugby Work has begun on site at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to construct a £15.7m brand new remembrance centre A £2m new sports and performing arts facility, with a multifunctional school hall and swimming pool for Eversfield Preparatory School has been finished Recently completed is a £1.2m scheme to create two brand new retail units in Kettering
The £2.6m new day care centre called Cambian Bletchley Park School has been handed over
Nottingham
Ready for use is De Montfort University’s refurbished former sports hall, The Venue
West Midlands The new £1.8m boarding house for 40 student and attached private residence for the Housemaster at Ruthin School has reached its halfway point The £1.6m redevelopment programme to transform several shopping units at the Regent Arcade Shopping Centre , Chelthenham is well underway Currently on site is a £1.1m scheme to extend three classrooms and add additional administration areas at Blackwell School Eversfield School Site Manager Kevin Hudson Contracts Manager
Work on a £3.5m new two storey research and design facility for the Royal Enfield is set to go on site early next year
Paul Charnock
A £1.2m refurbishment project has passed its midway point at the Robert Kilpatrick Clinical Sciences Building in Leicester
The Venue
Quanitity Surveyor Steve Smith
Site Manager Steven Gordon
Recently handed over is a £687k remodelling scheme to create a brand new student hub at the Portland Building for the University of Nottingham
Contracts Manager Tom Sewell Quanitity Surveyor Liam King
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
A £2.8m extension and refurbishment of the Dining Hall at Bromsgrove School has been completed
Letcombe Regis Contracts Manager Glen Moran
Poole
Site Manager Shane Miller
£1.6m phased refurbishment works to Nuffield Health in Bournemouth has recently been handed over
Quantity Surveyor
The construction of a three storey residential care home catering for dementia needs in Salisbury is set for completion early this year
Contracts Manager
Steve Smith Summer Fields
Keith Carter Site Manager Chris Warne
The light acoustic works and refurbishment project at Cranborne Middle School has been finished A £350k project to alter the drainage, guttering and fascias at Christchurch Infant School is ongoing
Grantham Back at Oakham School is a £978k scheme to extend the existing Merton Building A £1.5m scheme to build a brand new extension to Leicester University’s Richard Attenborough Centre has been handed over
Wantage Recently on site is a £4.4m scheme to demolish and construct a brand new two storey extension for the Science Block at Stowe School Working with Brackley Investments Ltd, a brand new £6m Dementia Care Home is being constructed in South Cerney
Quantity Surveyor Keith Carter Portland Building Contracts Manager Tom Sewell Site Manager Steve Graham Quantity Surveyor Liam King
A £5.4m project to build residential housing and a brand new community centre at Dora Carr Close, Oxford is well over halfway through Recently completed is a £1.1m scheme at Marlborough College to re-roof and internally refurbish the North block Construction of a brand new £2.6m sports pavilion at Summer Fields School is ready for use
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
And the award goes to... Paul Grandi awarded Stepnell Site Manager of the Year Paul Grandi is the worthy winner of the 2015 Site Manager of the Year award. As with every year it was a difficult decision as there were many potential winners. On site at Magdalen College, Paul has demonstrated a very collaborative approach to health and safety. This has ensured that the client’s concerns have been addressed in a professional and timely manner.
James Piddock is Stepnell Trainee of the Year Trainee of the Year 2015 goes to James Piddock. James is part of the Poole contract team. He is a committed and diligent young man both in his studies and work duties. James is working alongside the senior Quantity Surveyors and is becoming an invaluable member of the team. James has his own responsibilities and is growing in confidence day by day. He is well liked by his colleagues and will become a key member of the Poole team in the future.
Grapevine ǀ Winter 2015
New Arrivals Poole’s Assistant QS James Piddock and partner celebrated the birth of their son weighing 8lb 14oz
Davies Brett Jam08es/15 31/
Rugby Design Coordinator Cara Hunter and husband Seb welcomed the arrival of their little boy weighing 8lb Gabriel David Alexa 10oz 08/11/15nder Hunter
Leo Samuel P 21/09/15iddock
Poole’s Assistant QS Steve Davies, partner Louise and son Finley celebrated the arrival of Brett weighing 7lb 3oz.
West Midlands receptionist Jan Ackrill became a very proud grandma recently to Rory weighing 6lb 11oz
Hazeldine Rory Geor/0ge7/15 14
Congratulations West Midland’s Junior QS Dan Ellis graduated with a first class degree from a four year Building Surveying course at Wolverhampton University on Friday 25th September 2015. All his family and friends turned out to celebrate his fantastic achievements. During the ceremony Dan was awarded the ‘United Living Prize’ to commemorate his excellent work throughout his degree, particularly during his placement year with construction company United Living Group (formerly known as Bullock Construction Ltd.).
United Living Group liaise directly with the University to give Students the opportunity to complete a placement year within the industry to gain valuable experience. Around 30-40 students are taken on and, out of those, Dan was recognised as the most engaging student who outshone and outperformed the others on a construction course that had been given a placement.
United Living hard Baker
Dan with Ric
Prize Dan with
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The Stepnell Group would like to welcome Rugby Stephen Bell - Senior Quantity Surveyor Paul Clarke - Operations Manager Ryan Conyard - Trainee Assistant Site Manager Shazad Hussein - Design Manager Daniel Young - Trainee CAD Technician David Crombie - Chief Accountant Mark Watts - Design Manager Wantage Colin Chiles - Contracts Manager Mark Varney - Project Manager Nicola Wiles - Contracts Administrator Matthew Lane - Site Manager Peter Schroeder - Site Manager Simon Bannister - Customer Service Supervisor Gemma Brett - Admin Assistant Poole Kelvin Vockins
- Labourer
West Midlands David Berry - Contracts Manager David Humphries - Trainee Quantity Surveyor Jane Biston - Quantity Surveyor Darran Bright - Project Manager Carlo Carenza - Site Manager Stephen Cheney - Managing Surveyor Christopher Meredith - General Construciton Operative Brett Robinson - Apprentice Bricklayer
On September 25th the Poole Office hosted a cake bake coffee morning in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. The yummy treats and the team’s efforts helped raised a very impressive £90.00 for the charity.