Beyond net zero update

Beyond net zero

Update from HSE Advisor, and in-house Carbon Champion, Ryan Taggart

As part of our ongoing commitment to carbon reduction and our net zero by 2040 target, we are consistently investigating ways in which we can reach our environmental goals. Over the past few months we have made fantastic progress and continue to learn about carbon reduction and the climate emergency. We are in discussions with Zero Waste Scotland about available grants to contribute towards funding a carbon calculator. We are looking to develop a bespoke user-friendly system that would integrate with stages of our planning and build process, for seamless emissions monitoring. We realise the role that an effective carbon monitoring system has in reaching our targets and this will be a key focus of our digitalisation strategy going forward. In addition, we are having encouraging conversations with our clients regarding traffic management and how the environmental impact of this can be reduced. This will be part of ongoing conversations over the coming months and we will be able to provide further updates as it progresses. On-site we are starting to use hydrogen powered CCTV and lights as well as a green welfare unit which runs on solar power. We are also investigating the use of low carbon cement and which circumstances it could be used and there is a trial being lined up on one of our sites in the near future. We have also been focusing on materials recycling. At some of our concrete repair sites the teams have been cleaning and reusing the stone removed from tanks. This works out at a similar price point when comparing to the traditional method of sending to landfill and buying in new aggregate but has a far greater carbon saving. At our site in East Kilbride, we recycled earth that had been transferred from another site to build up an embankment area. This was a great bit of thinking and highlights the focus that the teams have on waste reduction. And at our site at Glasgow’s Claypits, there was zero waste with any spoil being used elsewhere on the site. The amount of paper being used on-site has reduced dramatically and most documents are becoming digitised. We have been trialling with our foremen the use of a tablet on site to remove the need for a paper-based folder. With current restrictions, all staff are working from home where possible and I see agile working continuing in the future. This brings a whole host of carbon savings from travel to electricity which will all help towards our goals.

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Foundations for the future: 40 years of attracting and retaining the industry’s best talent

Mackenzie Construction has a long history of developing talent from within. Our Contracts Director, Mark Wilson, started with us when he was just 16 and worked his way up, to play an integral role in building the business to where it is today. We believe that supporting and empowering our talent is essential to creating a passionate, focused team who strive to exceed standards and deliver safe, high quality and efficient projects which drive our business forward.

In-house focus

From the early days of Mackenzie Construction, we have been committed to giving opportunities to young people from our local communities and providing them with the training and mentoring that they require to develop their career with us. Our team of foremen have over 1000 years’ service between them and have been invaluable in passing on their knowledge and experience to the younger generation. Last year, this group were put through a bespoke Foreman Training Course to equip them with the appropriate tools and techniques to coach and mentor our younger workforce. More recently we opened our in-house Mackenzie Construction Training Academy to encourage the sharing of team experience and build core technical skills amongst the younger generations. Sessions to date have offered technical skills training on several critical service areas applicable to the water sector, focusing on areas such as structural concrete repairs service strike avoidance.

To lead the initial training, the team turned to seasoned Structural Foreman, Mark Keegan, who has worked at Mackenzie Construction for 15 years, delivering projects for a broad range of clients, such as Scottish Water, Aberdeen City Council and Edinburgh City Council. Though Mark has always been generous in passing on his considerable knowledge and expertise with his teams, this opportunity offers a new avenue for his passion for learning and sharing skills with a wider audience at the training centre. Speaking about the sessions so far, Mark said

“Although we’re just getting started at the Mackenzie Construction Training Academy, it’s been a real pleasure being able to share my experience, methods and systems of work with a group of keen staff, who have the needs of our clients in mind. It’s brilliant to be a part of developing the tremendous talent in our business and with some great feedback from the team already, I can’t wait to see their confidence and skillsets grow as we deliver further sessions over the coming months.”

Taking the next step

This focus on training and development has seen a number of recent promotions amongst our young workforce. Site Engineer, James McClure started with Mackenzie Construction four years ago as a Trainee Engineer and was recently promoted upon completion of his HNC in Civil Engineering. James has also undergone training in First Aid and the Site Supervisors Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS) which is endorsed by Build UK for all supervisors working on Build UK sites and provides an understanding of health, safety, welfare and environmental issues.

“Mackenzie Construction really stands out for me because of how they treat their workforce – especially their trainees. Not just in terms of wages but also in the levels of trust and respect you are given; they really are a great bunch of people to work for and it makes my job really enjoyable.”

James McClure, Site Engineer Another of our young engineers taking a step up is Danny Brown, who was recently promoted from Senior Contracts Engineer to Site Agent. Danny started as a Trainee Engineer seven years ago and has quickly moved through the ranks. He has experience in a range of Civil Engineering specialisms, having worked on a variety of projects for key framework clients like Scottish Canals, Scottish Water and Landmarc. Danny told us that he still learns every day, not just through structured training but also from informal mentoring through his Contracts Manager, Gavin Chesney and the Site Foremen. He now works with some of our younger trainees and enjoys helping them to develop, having experienced it all himself. This is really testament to Mackenzie Construction’s family culture and knowledge being passed through the generations.

Award-winning talent

At the end of every year, we recognise our team with the Mackenzie Warriors award ceremony, presented by players from the Glasgow Warriors, where categories span ‘Team of the Year’ through to ‘Young Person of the Year’. Many of our young people received awards this year, highlighting their skills, commitment to the business and delivering results for our clients.

Site Engineer, Keir Adrian, was awarded last year for going the extra mile in 2019. Keir worked on our project at Highlands and Islands Airport, volunteering to station himself in Inverness. His control of subcontractors on site was outstanding as well as demonstrating effective communication with the client which was essential in this environment. Keir started with Mackenzie Construction through our apprenticeship scheme in 2015 and has gone from strength to strength, working on projects spanning Environmental, Clean Water and, more recently, Defence.

“We’re committed to Mackenzie Construction because the business is committed to us and you really see this through the number of long service employees. The opening of the new Training Academy shows how invested the team is in the future of the business and moving forward with the times. It’s motivating to see colleagues who have moved into roles like Site Agent and are now leading big projects. I’m loyal to Mackenzie Construction and I’ve got aspirations to

go all the way.” Keir Adrain, Site Engineer And it’s not just internally that our talent is recognised. Kristina King, who was recently promoted to Senior Contracts Engineer, won the first ever Emerging Talent Award at the 2019 Concrete Repair Association dinner in London. Originally employed as a Graduate Site Engineer, Kristina has proven time after time her ability to deliver completed Concrete Repair and Refurbishment projects to a high standard, on time and within budget. This award was testament to her fantastic work and commitment to our business, clients and key focuses on safety, innovation and sustainability. We acknowledge the challenges our industry faces from an ageing workforce and the importance of safeguarding the future of our business. With strategic focuses in digitalisation, sustainability and net zero targets, we realise the essential role our young workforce has in achieving our ambitions and are committed to attracting, nurturing and retaining the industry’s best young talent.

Drew Nelson: Building a legacy, brick by brick

In 1987 Mackenzie Construction employed a Bricklayer, initially for a 3-week project in Irvine, working with Ricky Bennett and Hugh ‘Shug’ McGuigan. The inimitable Drew Nelson was employed for three weeks initially but he chose to stay with Mackenzie Construction for 33 years and progressed to Foreman, before officially retiring in the summer of 2020.

Having worked for the business for so many years, Drew has countless well-told tales and stories about the people, places and projects that kept him engaged and happy in his career. Though many of his famous anecdotes would be best left out of print, he is always happy to spend a few minutes sharing his stories with any who care to ask. This in itself hints at the larger-than-life character whom so many of the Mackenzie Construction team have come to know and love.

Drew has always taken talent development seriously and has taught countless apprentices throughout his career such as Mark Blades and Jonathan Gilmore. Jonathan, who began working with Mackenzie Construction 21 years ago, aged 16 as Trainee Bricklayer, is now a Foreman himself. He remembers his first few months working as an apprentice under Drew as anything but easy.

“We didn’t always see eye to eye at the start of our relationship, which is probably fairly normal given I was a teenager getting into the world of work and trying to learn, but I can definitely say now that Drew is a great teacher. He’s a big guy, so I was a bit scared of him at first and it didn’t help that I was pretty hopeless when I started. Over the years, we built up a great working relationship. He taught me everything I know.”

Considering this dedication to talent development, Drew said

“When I began working in construction all those years ago, it was a very different environment. The building trade has always had an element of sharing knowledge and passing on your skills to ensure that we all do things the right way – that’s the way I was taught! One of the biggest lessons is, if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. When I think back to teaching Jonathan, he was always excellent. Mark Blades was definitely harder work at first… but look at him now! “The apprentices I’ve had in recent years are no different. We work on the technical skills they need to learn, as well as on the right attitude to working in a site environment. Of course, they need to be sure they’re working safely and using the skills correctly and apprentices not only contribute to the work on site, they are the future of the industry.”

A respected member of the team, having played the roles of foreman, manager, trainer and mentor for the duration of his career, Drew has decided to continue his passion for developing people into his retirement, passing on his knowledge, skill and technical experience to the next generation of workers through the Mackenzie Training Academy.

Speaking on Drew’s retirement and his role within the Training Academy, Jonathan laughed,

“I don’t really feel like he has retired as I still speak to him most days! He’ll be great working in the Academy and continuing to develop our team. His positivity makes learning enjoyable and he is always laughing about something. They’ll be entertained, as much as benefitting from his skills and experience, and that’s a great way for people to learn.”

When asked to share some of his highlights in his career, Drew said

“I couldn’t pick a highlight of working at Mackenzie Construction – I’ve been happy at work for 33 years! I remember being asked to a meeting, and some of the team were talking about what has inspired them throughout their lives. Mark Wilson mentioned his grandad who had inspired him - both as a youngster and as an adult. Andy Dalrymple mentioned our previous MD, Brian Lamb, as he’d learned a lot from him. It came to my turn and I simply said ‘Mary Docherty’, at which point everyone laughed, before Andy intervened and suggested we move on to the next person. It’s moments like that I will always remember – it’s people and connections that matter most. In 2006, I had two heart attacks and was off work for eight months. In that time, the senior team kept in regular contact with myself and my wife, and they protected my job whilst I recovered. That was pretty inspirational to me.”

He continued,

“Mackenzie Construction has always been good to me and it is a great company to work for. They listen to staff and always encourage the team to try new ideas to improve the way we work. They take our thoughts and opinions into consideration and that is something I’ve always thought was brilliant.

“I’m glad to be retired, of course, but I am equally happy to be able to give back to the team and the business that has given so much to me over the years. I hope that I can continue to add value through my role as Trainer with the Training Academy for many years to come.”

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Raising money for brilliant causes

Colin McEachnie’s marathon challenge

Throughout the month of November, Project Manager, Colin McEachnie ran a marathon over each week for two charities close to his heart, and to the wider Mackenzie Construction family – the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and Man On! Inverclyde. My Name’5 Doddie foundation is Mackenzie Construction’s nominated 2020 charity. It aims to raise funds for the research into causes of Motor Neurone Disease and investigate potential cures whilst making sure that sufferers of MND are granted the funds that enable them to live their life to the fullest. Man On! Inverclyde is a peer support network focused on men’s mental health and provides a safe space to meet, chat and share reminding local men they are not alone. Colin has been open and honest with his own mental health struggles, having found solace in fitness and running following a breakdown last year. November also marks men’s mental health month making it a fitting time to take on the challenge. Also getting on board with the challenge was our Contracts Director, Mark Wilson, who also took on the 26.2 miles each week to support Colin with his efforts. Together they have managed to raise a fantastic amount for the two charities. Well done boys!

This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions we have been limited in our ability to get together and raise funds for our nominated charity the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. Taking all restrictions into consideration, we created the Mackenzie Construction 2020 Scavenger Hunt for all to get involved either with their household or as an individual to raise funds for this amazing charity. With prizes up for grabs we are delighted to announce the following winners

The best team name: The Wily Wylies The best hat: The Scruffy Scavengers

The best nature picture: From our Marketing Partner The most unusual find: What’s the Race

Thank you to everyone who got involved from scavenging to donating, we are delighted to have raised £300 for My Name’5 Doddie.

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A lifetime of service: Interview with our Valuations Manager, Sharon Scotland

Tell us a bit about your career at Mackenzie Construction.

I started just before my 18th birthday in 1984 as an office junior (part of an office of six). In my first week I remember being left to tend the phone when a call came in about a puncture on the JCB, which I had to help solve. I was thrown in at the deep end but learned so much from being part of the small team we were back then. The office then was in Carmunnock and I remember sometimes if we’d been working late, the directors would take us for a few drinks at The Busby Hotel afterwards to make up for it. Over the years, as Secretary, then Office Administrator and Administration Manager, I’ve been exposed to all different departments and kinds of work. More recently, I have moved into the role of Valuations Manager. There’s been lots of change and lots of new people but it’s never boring and no day is the same – even 36 years on.

What do you enjoy the most about working at Mackenzie Construction?

The camaraderie – everyone feels like family, especially having worked here for so many years. I’ve known some of the team for over 30 years and you remember the history you’ve been through with them and the challenges you’ve overcome together. I’m completely at ease with the team as I’ve known them for so long and I think this feeling filters through to newer staff too. For me, it’s all about the people. I’ve built so much confidence over the years working at Mackenzie from the variety of experience I have gained and the team ethos within the business.

How would you describe the culture at Mackenzie Construction and how has it developed over the years?

It’s definitely become more open with one of the biggest and best changes being the trust that’s instilled in everyone today. The hierarchy is different now and people are encouraged to be self-empowered and everyone’s opinion is valued. You’re given a feeling that the company is part of you and needs you to do well. They have also been very good to me. This motivates me and has made me very loyal over the years, always striving to get it right.

Can you share any funny stories from your time here?

Lots from Christmas nights out, though too many too mention them all. I remember the fancy dress party nights at Hampden where Mark Wilson was a Storm Trooper, Greg Deehan was Amy Winehouse and Alan Gaw was Chewbacca and us all dancing in a group together!

How have you seen Mackenzie supporting and developing young talent through their career?

The managers here really nurture the younger staff. We’ve always taken on young trainees who have learned through experience and from being exposed to all different types of jobs, of varying sizes. They are put through college whether it’s HNCs or SVQs and I’ve seen so many of them move up through the business. It’s a great environment for nurturing talent.

What do you see the future of the business being like for the next generation?

I see it being very fast paced and the business is getting bigger, but I also see it becoming a lot more streamlined. Things are becoming more digitally focused with advances in IT and moving to more app-based systems. When we first got computers in Mackenzie Construction, we had to teach ourselves how to use them and it was really hard! With the next generation, it’s different - they’ve had all their training in IT and technology throughout school and will be able to embrace it. The business has the potential to grow and grow but I hope it will always retain and nurture the wonderful culture we have now.

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