e l c o m e
WBeing the last Business Update of the year, it’s always a good opportunity for reflection and looking through the previous updates in the year, you can only come away with a huge sense of pride in who we are and what we’ve achieved in 2024.
We have made some excellent progress across many of our business plan objectives and, along the way, delivered some outstanding successes. The breadth of talent and depth of ability we have is testament to the variety of complex projects our teams have successfully undertaken in the year. Attempting to list the highlights of 2024 wouldn’t do justice in the space I’m given.
Within this update however, you will see that our achievements continued right through to the year end! Notably, we have now successfully handed over the professional County Pitch at Farington which is a significant milestone and a huge credit to our site team. Alongside this, the Preston Animate scheme achieved practical completion, starting a new chapter in the regeneration of Preston City Centre.
Looking ahead to 2025, we have some of the strongest order books for some time, and converting these opportunities and unlocking their potential wouldn’t be possible without your continued dedication and commitment.
As we approach the Christmas break, myself and Eric want to personally thank you for all your commitment and support throughout 2024. We are all part of a remarkable business and the considerable progress we have made across so many aspects of our business in 2024 means that we can turn into 2025 with plenty to look forward to We will really start to see the benefits of all our efforts coming through with even more well deserved successes and achievements
Finally, I hope you find time to have a well deserved break over the Christmas period and I wish you all the very best for the New Year
Thank you
Jeremy
CEOEricWright Group
Snowy greetings from Water Park
JeremyHartley
Countypitchandtraining areacompletesat Farington
Construction have handed over the professional county pitch and new training facility to clients Lancashire County Council and Lancashire Cricket.
The new county pitch will host several men’s and women’s competitive matches each year The team have also started construction of the new £7m pavilion Set over two floors, the 13,454 sq ft pavilion will include training spaces and facilities for players and staff, storage spaces and a multifunction room with bar and kitchen facilities Read more here
SteelBeamsigningeventat TheGedMasonBuilding
Work continues to progress at Seashell Trust with the steel frame now complete and roofing works coming along nicely.
Prior to the steel frames completion, members of the team joined students, staff and supporters for a steel beam signing event, which was then fitted into the structure. The new Ged Mason Building will not only be home to Royal College Manchester, it will also house office space for support staff to use, replacing older buildings which are no longer fit for purpose.
Towercrane installationat LaystallStreet
The tower crane is now up at construction’s Laystall Street project in Manchester City Centre. The team are working on site to deliver a new nine-storey residential development that will provide 89 one and two-bed affordable apartments.
The project is continuing to progress well, with the ground floor concrete now poured and the external ground works complete. Work is also due to commence on the lightweight steel frame.
Contract wins:
Our construction team have won a new contract with Gaskell School in Bolton. This contract follows on from previous refurbishment and re-roofing works. The team will be designing and constructing a new two-storey building extension with the demolition of an existing wall – the works are valued at £2m.
The team have also been instructed by client, Lancashire Constabulary for preparatory demolition and soft stripping works, at their new site in Chorley - the works are valued at £1 6m
Animatereaches practicalcompletion
Maple Grove Developments has proudly reached practical completion at their £45m mixed-use leisure scheme, Animate.
The project, built by our Construction team, is being delivered for Maple Grove Development’s on behalf of Preston City Council. Animate will feature an eight-screen cinema, 16-lane bowling alley with gaming zone, five family restaurant units, a food hall, public realm, a competitive social unit and 164-space basement car park. With lettings to leisure brands including ARC Cinemas, Hollywood Bowl, Zizzi, Cosmo, Las Iguanas, Mad Giant Food Hall, Loungers and Taco Bell signed up as tenants.
Andrew Dewhurst, Director said “This is an important milestone for Animate. The next stage involves the various tenants completing their own internal fit out works before they can open their doors to the public.” Read more here.
MapleGroveacquire19-acre siteinPenrith
Maple Grove Developments have acquired a strategically located, 19-acre development site just north of Penrith, adjacent to the A6 and Junction 41 on the M6 Motorway.
Primed for commercial development, outline planning consent allows for up to 250,000 sq.ft of industrial, logistics and general business space.
Read more here.
Phase two of the Victoria Trading Estate in Oldham has now completed, with two further tenants signed up at the scheme and only one unit to let.
Victoria Trading Estate has been built by Construction for Maple Grove Developments and the Group’s Property Portfolio, and following the success of the first phase in 2016, phase two comprises approximately 14,000 sq.ft across four trade counter units.
Read more here.
Portfolio refurbishments
Our portfolio team have carried out refurbishment works at Stone Cross Place and Wainwright Yard.
Stone Cross Place in Golborne, Warrington is a 20 year old office building that’s currently leased to 10 tenants Refurbishment works have been carried out to the entrance area and meeting rooms to meet modern day working expectations By completing the works, this will help retain existing tenants and attract new lettings to the vacant suites, which will increase the rent we get from the building
Refurbishments have also been completed at Wainwrights Yard, Kendal entrance to the retail/leisure. The improvements to the signage and lighting were undertaken to attract shoppers into the centre.
PlanninggoesinforMoor Parkrevamp
Our Civil Engineering team, on behalf of client Preston City Council, has submitted a detailed planning application for Moor Park. The plans include restoring the Serpentine Lake and installing a new bridge that will replicate the original Victorian bridge.
Theworkswouldalsoseeupgradestothefootballpavilion,aswellas improvementworkstothemainplayareaandthesoutheastentranceto MoorParkAvenue. Readmorehere.
Planningsubmittedfornew sportsandleisurefacility
Our Civil Engineering team went to a momentous effort so that a Remembrance Service could go ahead in Carlisle Market Square The team worked hard to ensure that the Memorial was reinstated in its new position ready for the Remembrance Sunday service
The team have been working in Carlisle since August 2024, delivering the Greenmarket and Market Square public realm works which include a rain garden and other landscaping works to create an inviting outdoor entertainment space.
New contracts
Followingapublicconsultation,ourCivilsteamhassubmittedaplanning application,onbehalfofPrestonCityCouncil,forthecreationofanew£2.5m sportsandleisurefacilityatWaverleyPark,Preston.Readthestoryhere.
Highlycommendedaward forClydeBridge
Well done to Civils who have been highly commended for their Clyde Bridge project at the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (National) North West Awards 2024.
The project was led by our Contracts Manager Antony Mulligan, for client South Lanarkshire Council, and involved a 90m span modular bridge launch over the River Clyde.
Antony commented "It's great to be highly commended for our work at Clyde Bridge, the new bridge has delivered a new community link along with a range of sustainability and social value benefits. It also showcases our high quality and problem-solving approach to delivery. Great work and well done to all the team”
Our Civil Engineering team have won a new contract with Wakefield Council to deliver repairs to the retaining walls at the Pontefract Park Reservoir – the works are valued at £873k.
The team have also been instructed by client, Merseytravel, to construct a replacement monument, standing 19m high it’s complete with a feature lighting bowl, at the entrance of the Queensway Tunnel – the works are valued at £1.4m.
Developmentupdate
We are proud to welcome the first homeowners to phase one at our Ribblesdale, Worsthorne site which is home to 35, two and three-bedroom bungalows for the over 55’s market.
The team have also started on site at their Loveclough, Rossendale development. The site was previously being developed by Hollins Homes with Applethwaite recently taking on the site and continuing to work on nine existing properties and construct 51 new homes.
ApplethwaitelaunchnewInstagram
The Applethwaite team have launched a new Instagram channel to help them reach new markets by sharing updates from their developments as well as connecting with customers. You can check out their new page at Applethwaite.Homes
CareertalkatGreater ManchesterBusiness School
Strategic Health Care Planner, Natalie Hilton from our Healthcare Consultancy team visited Greater Manchester Business School to deliver a talk to nursing students about her career pathway As a registered nurse, Natalie’s had a varied healthcare career and highlighted the impact that healthcare planning within the built environment can play She talked to students about the work Partnerships do within the Healthcare sector and the different roles within the group
Newcontracts
Our Facilities Management team have won a new contract with Carvetti Partnerships to deliver hard services across four of their health centres in Barrow. They will be working on a three year contract - works are valued at £1 1m
Working with long-standing client, Todmorden Health Centre, our Facilities Management team have won a three year extension to their contract which sees them deliver hard and soft services at the centre
Our Healthcare Consultancy team continue to work closely with Community Health Partnerships colleagues and are making great progress with the LIFT buildings in East Lancashire.
Jeanette Leach, North West Regional Director at Community Health Partnerships left the team some excellent feedback following project completions.
Newframework announcement
Partnerships have secured a place on the Community Health Partnerships Consultancy Services Dynamic Purchasing System. Giving the team the opportunity to tender for work in the following categories Multi-Disciplinary Consultancy Services, Strategic Management, Programme Management, Estates Management and Sustainability Consultancy Services.
Lancashire’sConstruction BusinessoftheYear
Eric Wright Construction have been awarded Construction Business of the Year at Insider’s Lancashire Property Awards 2024. This award adds to the team’s growing collection as they also took home North West Construction Business of the Year back in May.
John Hartnett, Construction’s Managing Director said “What a year it’s been for our construction team Earlier in the year we took home North West Construction Business of the Year and now we’ve won Lancashire Construction Business of the Year The breadth of talent and ability we have is testament to the variety of complex projects undertaken. We all have a huge sense of pride in who we are and what we have achieved.”
Applethwaite were nominated for House Builder of the Year and Maple Grove Developments, in partnership with Burnley Council, were also up for Commercial Development of the Year for Pioneer Place in Burnley Well done to all the divisions for being shortlisted
‘Boxphish’updatefromIT
You will now receive monthly emails regarding cyber awareness training in collaboration with Boxphish. Please ensure you complete the training on a regular basis to help safeguard the business from threats.
These modules are intended to provide employees with the knowledge to recognise threats both within and outside of the workplace, which minimises the risk of security incidents.
Civilsphotographycompetition
The Civils team recently hosted a photo competition to see who could take some of the best pictures of their sites. Well done to the winners below
Socialvaluedonationto SalfordCityRoosters
Our Construction team, in collaboration with Wernick Hire, have donated a 32ft fully refurbished unit to provide classroom training and a 20ft storage unit to Salford City Roosters Rugby League Club. The team recently joined Jack Youd, Deputy City Mayor of Salford and Salford City Roosters for the official opening.
The social value spend from this donation will be attributed to our Willohaus project where the team are delivering 100 Passivhaus, affordable apartments for Salix Homes
Read more about the opening and donation here
WinterWarmeritems donatedtoGreatPlaces
As part of our social value commitments on the Laystall Street project, the team and brickwork sub-contractor PLF, have donated electric blankets and draught excluders to client Great Places Housing Group. The donation is part of the client's winter warmers campaign which supports the community's most vulnerable people.
Garstangand Burnley
Aysa Hardy, Site Manager at Applethwaite, has been volunteering at Age UK Lancashire providing materials and labour to plaster and paint a wall inside their Garstang shop as well as doing some gutter cleaning at their Burnley Branch.
Janine Dawson, the Head of Retail has passed on her thanks, saying “I’m so grateful for all your support. You have been amazing!You have done a great job, and we are delighted You have saved the organisation a substantial amount of money, which all supports Age UK Lancashire in being able to support the older people in Lancashire who need us ”
Anothersuccessful WOWEXcohort
We recently welcomed our fourth, World of Work Experience (WOWEX) cohort The group was made up of 10 students who spent the week immersed in the different divisional operations, experiencing challenges and tasks from planning, bid writing, design management, quantity surveying, site management, programme planning and engineering.
The week-long work experience programme gives students the opportunity to work in small groups forming their own business and with the help of our staff, work through a project from tender to completion. The final task is to present their work to a panel of our directors and demonstrate their understanding of the work we do in our industry.
Read how they got on here.
UniversityofSalford Architecturestudentsvisit SocialValue
Continuing our relationship with the University of Salford, our Construction team hosted a site visit for a group of second year architecture engineering students at our Peru Street project The visit was especially beneficial to the students as the assessment brief in their current module required students to analyse and present structural elements of a variety of structures.
Supplychain partnerdonates toolsand equipmentto RumworthSchool
Construction is currently on site at Rumworth School in Bolton for client Clear Futures. As part of our ambition to leave a legacy beyond the build, our masonry contractor on the scheme ECR have generously donated new tools and equipment to the school, allowing for the students to hone their skills in becoming the next generation of bricklayers
ThreePeaks fundraising
Well done to Partnerships and people from across the Group who have raised an impressive £3,150 for their walk up the Three Peaks, and with match funding from the Group have donated £6,300 to Wigan & Leigh Hospice
JimandAnnabelCarterareretiring
Jim Carter joined the business in 1986 as a Development Manager in Maple Grove Developments and became a Director of Maple Grove plus many other companies, before becoming CEO of the Group Following his retirement as CEO in 2009, Jim became Chair of Property and Deputy Chair of the Group
Over the years, Jim has been a passionate and enthusiastic supporter of the Group and delivered a number of successful developments including speculative offices in Manchester, food stores including a joint venture with Booths and a joint venture with De Vere at Daresbury Park.
He’s had an accomplished career in commercial property development and whilst here, Jim was Chair of the RICS and received the first ever presidents medal in 2014. Jim was also a member of the Lancashire LEP and chaired City Deal.
Annabel Carter is also drawing to a close her remarkable legal career with the Group spanning over 25 years during which, Annabel has advised the various property and contracting divisions.
We would like to thank Jim and Annabel for the dedication and enthusiasm over the years and wish them well in the next chapter. We hope they enjoy the travelling which they have planned and pursuing their many hobbies
SpotlightontheLegalteam
The Legal Department will ring in the New Year with the new additions of:
Olivia Hepworth (Property Solicitor)
Tom Gall (Construction Solicitor)
Christel Banks (temporary Senior Legal Consultant)
They will be supporting the existing Legal Department, reflecting the growth of the Group.
JeremywithJimCarter
Annabelwiththelegalteam
Men’sHealthAwareness Month
Men’s Health Awareness took place in November. We have previously raised awareness of men's health issues, specifically mental health, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
Joining the charity, Movember, we looked at men’s health through a male lens, focusing on prevention, early intervention and health promotion.
Theinformationcanstillbeaccessedonbyclickingtheimage.
MenopauseAwareness Day
Menopause Awareness Day took place on the 18 October. We held a workshop with Dr Gibson and launched some new e-learning content to support colleagues going through it and living and working alongside those that are.
The course can still be accessed on Wright People by clicking the image.
Comingin January...
Entry into our Save as You Earn Scheme will open in January.
This is a great benefit where you can choose to have an amount deducted from your salary each month which will then be paid out in November.
Reset and Recharge!
We’re looking ahead to 2025 with some exciting events coming up In January we will be looking at a Reset and Recharge aimed at helping you get the most out of your health setting you up for the year ahead.
Check your annual leave. Our leave year runs from April to March, please log onto WrightPeople, have a look at how many days you have left and get them booked in!
Update your EDI information: Please log onto WrightPeople and update your personal details including your Equality, Diversity and Inclusion information, thank you!
If you need any support of guidance accessing Wright People, please contact a member of the HR team on hr@ericwright.co.uk
A huge welcome to our new colleagues across the Group
Eric Wright Group
Eleanor Greenwood - L&D Coordinator
Gillian English - L&D Administrator
Liam King - Apprentice IT Support Technician
Tom Gall - Construction & Engineering Solicitor
Olivia Hepworth - Property Solicitor
Eric Wright Water
Laura Warren - Finance Assistant
Simon Smith - Senior Planner
Stephen Waterhouse - Project Engineer (Mechanical)
Leon Ward - Project Manager (Mechanical)
Dominic Potgieter - Electrical Improver
Daniel Farnworth - Site Manager
Paul Prior - Site Manager
Douglas Walker - Cleaning Operative
James Vaughan - Site Manager
Erin Livermore - Office Administrator
Harry Yates - General Operative
John Jones - General Operative
Carl Scrase - Working Supervisor
Eric Wright Construction
Mark Holden - Design Manager
Thomas Edwards - Site Manager
Daniel Clarke - Aftercare Operative
Jamie Wraith - Advanced Joiner
Lee Wall - Senior Planner
Servicecelebrations
Eric Wright Facilities Management
Natalie Dickson - Cleaning Operative
Karen Font - Cleaning Operative
Lucy Wood - Cleaning Operative
Katie Glover - Cleaning Operative
Franklin Oladimeji - Cleaning Operative
Thomas O'Grady - Site Supervisor
Molly McDonald - Cleaning Operative
Callum Cook - Cleaning Operative
James Hipkiss - Cleaning Operative
Royston Barker - Site Assistant
Kwasi Doffour - Cleaning Operative
Richard Amankwah - Cleaning Operative
Adana Darius - Cleaning Operative
Malachy Devlin - Technical Services Manager
John Cunningham - Site Assistant
Alwyn Paul - Site Supervisor
Aaron Hindmoor - Site Supervisor
Simon Stone - Helpdesk Manager – Concessions
Sharon Livesey - Cleaning Operative
Applethwaite
Roy Jeffery - Housing Manager
Eric Wright Civil Engineering
Macy Noblett - Project Support Coordinator
Congratulations and thank you to our colleagues who are celebrating service anniversaries!
5 Years Service
David Sykes – HR Administrator - EWG
Ethan West - Site Assistant - EWFM
Barbara Stolarczyk – Cleaning Operative - EWFM
Emma Holland – Facilities Manager - EWP
Andy Newton – Commissioning Engineer - EWW
Ryan Pickstone – Electrical Supervisor - EWW
Tim Holmes – Senior Planner - EWW
Kevin Tolley – Mechanical Fitters Mate - EWW
Philip Ward – CAD Engineer - EWW
Matthew Williams – Mechanical Engineer - EWW
10 Years Service
Jonathon Wasp – Project Quantity Surveyor - EWC
Daniel Berry – Site Engineer - EWC
Sarah Carleton – Construction Administrator - EWC
Suzanne Moores - Secretary - EWCE
Gary Jones – Operations Manager - EWW
Louise Bates – Senior Contract Administrator - EWW
15 Years Service
Nick Keyte – Senior Project Manager - EWW
25 Years Service
Nick Palmer – Group IT Technical Manager - EWG
NickPalmer
Pleasecontactuswithanynews you’dliketoseein thenextupdate: ewgcomms@ericwright.co.uk
WrittenanddesignedbyAmyandMichelle
