DAVIES P ARTNERSHIP
ENERGISING ENVIRONMENTS
CHESTER | LIVERPOOL | CONWY
NEW YEAR NEW LOOK NEW MILESTONES
As we step into a new year with recharged minds and a new focus, we also start 2025 with a Brand Refresh. After a tremendously busy 2024 the break was much welcomed by us all and has brought us back reinvigorated, to provide a continued commitment to our clients and our people and a renewed focus on our growth strategy.
Last year we had some incredible opportunities and were successful in many of them, opening the gateway to new connections and some truly exciting projects. Amongst all the uncertainty the change in government has brought, there are some shining beacons of hope in terms of investment, proposed improvements to the planning process, oh, and something about 1.5 million homes.
So 2025, what’s in store?
website update
Keep an eye on our website for the soon-to-launch update, featuring more details on our expanding portfolio of services and exciting nationwide projects.
directors retrospective
2025 marks some pretty big milestones for our board of directors.
annual charity golf day
The date is already in the diary - expect an invite and more information very soon.
industry calendar
UK REiiF, Housing 25, CIH & the first DIB Cheshire & North Wales awards.
galway bike ride
It’s back for 2025. The team will be touring around Ireland to raise awareness for some very special charities.
apprenticeships
Welcoming in the 2025 cohort for work experience and another apprenticeship offer.
January
February
March April May
June
July
August September October November
December
mesh
Mechanical Electrical Sustainability - Harmonisation
Last year, we disrupted the market with our new service, MESH, delivering critical input to the M, E & S Strategy at pre-planning stage. There’s been a huge interest and uptake on the service, delivering some incredible results.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Davies Partnership for a number of years now and have recently utilised their new service, MESH, on one of our residential projects in Denton, Manchester. With the growing emphasis on sustainable construction and ever-evolving legislation, particularly in relation to Part L & Part O (Overheating) Building Regulations, I have often found myself instructing various consultants and coordinating them individually for different aspects of compliance.
Davies Partnership’s new service, MESH, has streamlined this entire process by providing us with a single point of contact that possesses ‘in-house’ the various disciplines and skills that we require. The Davies Partnership team provided critical up-front feedback ‘Pre-Planning Submission’ that suitably informed the architectural design in relation to the mechanical, electrical, and sustainability elements.
Their trusted team, backed by years of industry-leading experience, ensures that I know I’m in good hands. Not only has it saved me time, but it’s also provided a more cohesive approach to meeting these crucial standards.
They ran workshops with the various stakeholders at key stages, walking us through the proposed M&E strategies to ensure we had a well-thought-out design — ultimately reducing costs and potential delays on the scheme moving forward.
Tufail Ahmed, Head Of Pre Construction COLLABORATE GROUP
Povey Road | Warrington | Housing 21 | Residential
Lea Green Station | St. Helens | Northern | Rail
Spinnaker House | Rock Ferry | Torus | Extra Care
Liverpool College | Mossley Hill | Liverpool College | Education
This Salix-funded decarbonisation project comprises the replacement of gas-fired heating and hot water plants at three MerseyCare sites with low-carbon heat pump alternatives. Davies Partnership was responsible for surveying and designing the new systems, which include commercial air-to-water and water-to-water heat pump technologies and district heating solutions. A total of 7 plantroom upgrades are required across three operational sites.
Davies Partnership carried out in-depth heat loss and heat emitter surveys to ensure the systems were suitable for the proposed heat pump operating temperatures. Flow rates were monitored on existing domestic hot water plants to optimise the size of the new equipment. The Rathbone site includes a mental health secure unit and requires a full HTM design specification. Life Rooms are based around a listed building, and sensitivity was required in relation to external plant design and acoustic treatment. A total of 1.5 MW of heat pump equipment will be installed across the three sites.
Project due to complete early 2025.
Rathbone Hospital | Liverpool | Kimpton | Healthcare & Decarbonisation
In Other News
Davies gets behind Aby Aaron is a truly inspirational individual who was born with cystic fibrosis, a condition that affects the lungs and digestive system and often results in a reduced life expectancy and lung capacity. Despite these challenges, Aaron excelled in football, playing at the youth level for Wales alongside Aaron Ramsey before emerging as one of Europe’s brightest prospects in MMA.
In 2017, tragedy struck when Aaron was diagnosed with stage-three cancer, necessitating major surgery to remove a 15 cm tumour from his stomach. Yet, even a second life-changing setback couldn’t deter his spirit, and Aaron fought his way back to continue his MMA career.
Everyone at Davies Partnership was so proud to sponsor Aaron Aby this year and will continue to support him as he continues his journey.
We are really pleased to be engaged on this framework. Already working alongside great clients on some exciting projects, we can’t wait to reveal more details in the new year.
Innovation Chain North Framework Launch
Walter Holmes five minutes with...
Senior Electrical Engineer
Liverpool Office
Walter is a great asset to the business and has developed his skills consistently.
How would you describe your job role?
My current role is designing electrical services, including detailed drawings specifications and undertaking site surveys and inspections.
How did you get into the industry?
When I left school, I went to college and completed my level 3 in electrical installation. I was working part time for my Uncle at his electrical company and struggling to find full time employment until I was offered a building services apprenticeship.
What has been your favourite project to work on & why?
The team are lucky in that we work on a variety of projects all the time. Recently we completed the handover for Mariners Park, a mixed use scheme in Wallasey which I have been involved in since day one, so it was great to see the project complete and a happy client.
“What do you enjoy most about working at DP?
I enjoy the team ethic, everyone works hard, helps each other out and has a laugh.
If you were not an engineer, what would you be?
Probably working on site as an electrician.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t take time for granted, enjoy every day!
What are your interests outside of work?
Spending time with family and walking my crazy dog Bonnie. Watching the reds flying at the top of the league and going the gym.
Director Commendation
Walter joined us in May 2021 and fitted in seamlessly, quickly becoming a valued and popular member of the team, with his dedication and commitment being evident from day one.
Walter’s technical capability, superb communication skills and pro-active nature sees him regularly earn plaudits from our clients and is one of the reasons why he is so highly regarded within the business ( another being the fact he is a loyal Liverpool FC supporter)
Tony McDonnell Managing Director
congratulations AlanWilliams
We are extremly pleased to announce our new ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Alan has been with the business since 2019 and is an integral part of the leadership team. With years of leadership experience, Alan has successfully guided teams in managing the intricacies of electrical systems and ensuring that all projects meet stringent standards, while also accommodating the unique needs of each scheme.
Not only the responsible Electrical QC at Davies Partnership but also a key player in developing our rigorous QC process. His extensive industry knowledge, combined with his dedicated approach to his work, makes him an invaluable member of the Davies Partnership team.
Outside of work, when not dressed in Lycra cycling around Denbigh, Alan likes to spend time with his family or with friends over a drink or two. His directional skills have, however, been found wanting on occasion, as Peter will vouch for on their way home from an event at Celtic Manor. We will leave it there!!!
Alan is a true team player and an all-round great guy to have around.
Congrats again, Alan!
Industry
9th - 10th September 2024
The Housing Community Summit
The Housing Community Summit is not just a conference; it’s a forum for debating and actively shaping the future of social housing. It brings together thousands of housing professionals, stakeholders, politicians, and residents under one roof at this community-driven event, by the sector, for the sector.
In its first year at its new home in Liverpool, the CIH conference drew on common topics from the year, surrounding local authority planning delays and backlogs, skills shortages, and the need for more apprenticeships and opportunities for young people. There were some really engaging conversations, in particular at the Seddon and Sutcliffe breakfast. Hosted at the impressive Pullman Hotel on Kings Dock, Nuala Gallagher and Ruth Ryan of Liverpool City Council and Homes England , respectively, discussed the significant challenges facing the construction industry in delivering the new mandatory housing targets as part of the new Labour government’s ambition to build 1.5 million more homes.
8th October 2024
IHEEM (The Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management)
Not our first time in Manchester for an industry conference, but it was our first time joining the Healthcare sector at IHEEM, and what a pleasure it was. A full day of events, client catch-ups, and making new connections.
We started at Albert’s Schloss for a pastry and coffee with our friends from JM Architects before heading off to the conference centre.
An evening of insightful conversations on all things healthcare started at Dirty Martini, courtesy of Gilling Dod , and ended with a catch-up with Ryder Architects via Manahatta.
We received a warm welcome from the sector with several successful meetings that followed—thanks for having us, IHEEM! We’ll be back again this year!
Calendar
November 2024
Liverpool Development Update
Development updates across the North West are so important for SMEs like us. We can hear firsthand about future planning and meet those driving change.
We were really pleased to attend the recent Liverpool update and hear from a number of key stakeholders. A jam-packed agenda covered several key development sites in the city:
Liverpool Waters
King Edward Triangle
Everton FC’s New Stadium
The masterplan for St Helens
The 2040 Birkenhead Framework
What an exciting time for the Liverpool City Region! Incredible opportunities, new developments, and much-needed investment in our communities.
20th November 2024
Celebrating Excellence at the Morgan Sindall Infrastructure Rail Supply Chain Awards
A fantastic afternoon of celebration, strategy updates, and exciting discussions about future prospects.
The occasion highlighted the vital role that supply chains play in delivering successful projects. Voted for by project teams, it was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our peers.
The event also provided valuable insights into current projects, upcoming opportunities, and ways to collaborate on more cost-effective solutions moving forward.
Congratulations to all the winners!
14th
crazy mini golf
There’s a highly competitive yet healthy spirit in our office. Hot topics include: Football Scores, Wrexham’s League Position, Shooting Clays, Elec vs Mech, Pool Table Standings, and Golf Par — the latter two being under scrutiny at our most recent team day.
Operations Director, Peter Lyke, had the ingenious idea of turning our Chester office into a 9-hole crazy mini-golf course. After a delicious lunch, courtesy of Made in Italy, our local pizzeria, the team split off into groups to take on ‘Pete’s super fun, cool crazy golf’.
It all came down to a tie-break between Alan Williams and Tim White, meeting on a score of 28 (Tony and Kev were nowhere to be seen), but after a two-round tie-break, Alan took the trophy and was crowned the champion.
We finished on a game of Killer on the pool table. It was a quick knockout for most, with only Tony, Tracy, Kev, Richard, and Rob left standing for the final three rounds, with Rob Buchanan taking the win.
Aside from giving the team a chance to relax, “Together Days” provide an opportunity to continue building relationships and reinforcing a positive work culture. Our people promise goes beyond career development; we also focus on enabling personal growth.
Save Construction
editors experience
I’ve always thought there should be an assembly at the start of year 7, where a group of professionals come together to present varying careers that an 11-year-old would probably have never heard of and, chances are, will never hear of again until they’re 18, 21 or 31, trying to figure out what it is they want to do.
At 11, did you know what a QS was, or a Marine Biologist, or what an Actuary did? Did you know that an Air Traffic Controller is among the highest-paid jobs in the UK, or that a Stone Mason can command £250 a day?
We expect children to make huge life choices at 15 when choosing a college course with such little information about the impact of that choice.
This is where the Save Construction Initiative comes in. Through their Not Just Men & Muddy Boots campaign, they are engaging earlier with young people, offering them information and choices about an industry plagued by stereotypes. The industry-driven task force works to build a more stable construction industry by engaging with stakeholders, addressing the skills shortage, and highlighting the incredible opportunities on offer.
When I first joined Davies Partnership, I wrote a piece on how I was apprehensive to work in a male-dominated industry, but my anxiety was quickly quashed. I soon realised how welcoming the space is. The recent event, which was attended by Steve Rotheram, completely echoed my findings. The event was an engaging power piece on how inclusivity, opportunity, and early collaboration can make the biggest difference to growth. As an ME&S engineering consultancy, our boots are rarely ‘muddy’; instead, we illuminate space, protect, secure, and deliver real sustainable change.
The starting point of change for me is talking about it. What do you do? How would you describe it to an 11-year-old?
Apprenticeships
We are delighted to introduce our new apprentice Building Services Engineer, Elliot Dorgan.
With a skills shortage industry-wide, we felt compelled to contribute to a solution, and so began the recruiting process for a new apprentice back in October 2023.
The role of an MEPS engineer has historically been misunderstood or has been a career that many have found inaccessible, but after engaging with some fantastic young people recently, we believe a great talent pool is there for us to tap into in the coming years.
We had a healthy uptake in applications, and it was a truly heartwarming experience to meet so many aspiring engineers with a passion for Engineering and the Digital Built Environment.
Over the next 5 years, Elliot will spend 80% of his working week under the expert guidance of our Engineering and Sustainability teams, with the other day spent at Liverpool John Moores University.
2025 Cohort
In November, we were joined by Lilly Williams and Sean Hagan from Cronton Sixth Form College.
Currently enrolled on Digital Built Environment and Professional Engineering courses, respectively, they spent their time working closely with our team, utilising digital software programmes to produce an accurate model of our Chester office. They completed heat loss calculations for a new heating system and looked at some LED lighting design.
Both Lilly and Sean really impressed our team with their attitude, application, skill, and enthusiasm. Both students have already enrolled on our Spring Work Experience course, where they will be working in Liverpool alongside the Sustainability Team.
Please get in touch with Jessica via jessica.laycock@daviespartnership.co.uk if you would like to know more about our apprenticeship programme and work experience opportunities.
Christmas Socials
We work in a very busy, very social industry, so after a year’s graft, it’s only right we all celebrate together - as a working collective & for our individual achievements.
22nd November 2024
JDA Ball
Thank you to our fabulous friends at JDA Architects for another spectacular Ball.
An absolute must in the calendar for the Davies Partnership team, who this year enjoyed an exceptional night with excellent company from Victoria Millward, Oliver Moran, Stewart Jordan, Aaron Francis, Stephen Glover, Kevin Smith, and Ryan Hayes.
Their nominated charity for 2024 was the incredible Maggie’s Centres, a special support space for anyone who has been affected by cancer.
Sasha Mathias from Maggie’s spoke at the evening with such compassion and grace, a woman who truly makes a difference.
It was an honour to attend and support such important, life-changing work.
13th December 2024 Christmas Party
Thank you to everyone who attended our annual Festive Drinks event at Albert’s Schloss Liverpool. Co-hosted alongside our friends and colleagues from Alan Johnston Partnership, Paddock Johnson, and Drees & Sommer UK, it was a fabulous opportunity to connect with our clients over drinks, reflect on the year gone by, and consider what 2025 will bring.
Here’s to a continued success and collaboration in the year ahead! 28th November 2024
After our traditional secret Santa exchange, the team was treated to a fabulous lunch at our local pizzeria – Made in Italy.
Our Christmas party is always a fantastic occasion, bringing together three offices to celebrate the successes of the year and spending some quality time together!
A special thank you, of course, goes to the leadership team for being so generous: Tony McDonnell, Peter Lyke, Gemma Davies, Richard Lewis, and Kevin Fields.
