The Knowledge Winter 2022 | Mackenzie Construction

Welcome to our home for regular updates about Mackenzie Construction. Our team are at the heart of our success and this newsletter aims to ensure we celebrate our achievements and keep you informed of everything you need to know.

FOREWORD

I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my thanks to all for the hard work and commitment shown during 2022 which has resulted in the last year being so successful with increased workload delivered on site and a strong order book for 2023.

The hard work and commitment of all has also been recognised externally. We were delighted to receive two awards at the Scottish Civil Engineering Awards with The Claypits receiving the Community Wellbeing Award and our work on the Union Canal breach receiving a Special Recognition for Outstanding Collaboration. At The Concrete Society Awards, our entry for the Treated Water Storage (TWS) Repairs Programme with Scottish Water was Highly Commended in the CRA Repair and Refurbishment Category, a fantastic achievement for all involved. These awards reflect on all of us as we continue to work as “one team” and we should celebrate the success of 2022 together.

While it is right that we celebrate the success of 2022, we also need to remain focused on continuous improvement and 2023 will see us focusing on implementing changes in how we operate as a business which will drive improvements in three key areas: productivity & quality, Net Zero and the implementation of COINS finance software. The importance of these three areas of focus is reflected in my fellow Directors each taking on responsibility for one of the three areas of focus as follows: Alan Montgomery (Productivity & Quality), Mark Wilson (Net Zero) and Mark Bramley (implementation of COINS finance software).

It should be noted that our Scottish Civil Engineering Awards referred to Community, Wellbeing and Collaboration which are aligned with our company values and the positive culture which we have within Mackenzie Construction and while 2022 was a great year, I know we can make 2023 even better.

I hope all have a great and a well-deserved Christmas and New Year holiday and I am looking forward to us coming together again refreshed in 2023 to build on the success of 2022 and work together in achieving the aims we have set ourselves for 2023.

Andy Dalrymple

MACKENZIE CONSTRUCTION SCOOPS

TWO TOP AWARDS AT SCOTTISH CIVIL ENGINEERING AWARDS

Mackenzie Construction, has been awarded two top accolades at the prestigious Scottish Civil Engineering Awards. The business took home the Community Wellbeing Award for its project with Scottish Canals on the regeneration of ‘The Claypits’ Local Nature Reserve in North Glasgow and whilst its work on the remediation of the Union Canal breach, again with Scottish Canals, received the Special Recognition for Oustanding Collaboration.

Mackenzie Construction is a longstanding delivery partner to Scottish Canals and the two organisations have worked in partnership for the past 15 years, preserving Scotland’s historic canals and regenerating areas along the network into vibrant community spaces. The partnership has had a successful run at the Scottish Civil Engineering Awards taking home awards in 2019, 2020 and 2021 including ‘The Greatest Contribution to Scotland’ for its role in delivering the pioneering flood management system – Glasgow’s Smart Canal.

Awarded the Community Wellbeing Award, The Claypits project in North Glasgow has seen previously derelict and underused land transformed into an expansive green space that now connects the local communities of Firhill, Woodside and Hamiltonhill. This has provided some of the most deprived areas of Glasgow access to local wildlife, active travel networks and the Forth and Clyde Canal which has seen the space used for a variety of activities including walking, cycling, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing. Recent studies from Glasgow Caledonian University identified that those living within 700m of the recently regenerated canal area had a 15% lower risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease, a stroke or hypertension.

Mackenzie Construction’s work on the project included the design and build of a sliding pedestrian bridge, environmental and habitat improvements, high quality hard landscaping, drainage and canal wall repairs. Robbie MacLean, Contracts Manager at Mackenzie Construction was in attendance to collect this award. He shared, “We’re proud of our role in the regeneration of The Claypits in North Glasgow. This is an area rich in heritage that was once the centre of Glasgow’s industrial revolution. Over the centuries, it had fallen into disuse with the area severely lacking usable green space and active travel routes. To see the way the space has been revitalised and how local communities have come together to enjoy it has been fantastic.”

The second award picked up by Mackenzie Construction, was a Special Recognition for Oustanding Collaboration for its work on the Union Canal breach. From the emergency response right through to canal resilience works, Mackenzie Construction worked closely with client, Scottish Canals, and geotechnical specialists, Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions, to ensure the canal was repaired and refilled for the spring reopening of the canal. This involved extensive remodelling of the breach to design a suitable repair programme and a series of resilience works that will safeguard the canal for generations to come.

“From the initial breach, Mackenzie Construction were on site with Scottish Canals as part of the emergency response team who worked tirelessly to stop the flow and minimise the impact on the local area. Following this was a well-planned programme that run to schedule due to the intense collaboration between teams that saw us meet our target.”

added,

“To take home two awards at the Scottish Civil Engineering Awards is a fantastic achievement for our business and I am incredibly proud of our whole team. Everyone, from our office staff through to our site delivery squads, have played a role in achieving this success and we look forward to celebrating as one team.”

Gavin Chesney, Contracts Manager at Mackenzie Construction shared,

Andy Dalrymple, Managing Director at Mackenzie Construction

MACKENZIE CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS WITH SCOTTISH CANALS FOR 200-YEAR CELEBRATION OF UNION AND CALEDONIAN CANALS

Mackenzie Construction has been supporting Scottish Canals as the official partner of its 200th anniversary celebrations. We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Scottish Canals having worked as a framework contractor for the canal custodians since 2012 and previously for its predecessor British Waterways, since 2000. The extensive experience we have from working on these historic waterways and their associated infrastructure has given us a deep appreciation of the impact that the canals have on Scotland’s heritage, culture and the local canal communities.

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Union and Caledonian Canals, Scottish Canals have been delivering an exciting calendar of activities which Mackenzie Construction is proud to be sponsoring. This has included online experiences, canal challenges, flotillas, lighting landmark structures, local festivals and much more.

As one of Scotland’s leading civil engineering contractors, we have been working with Scottish Canals over the past 10 years to repair, restore and regenerate Scotland’s canals and the areas around them. This has exposed us to the early 19th century engineering feats from the likes of Thomas Telford and Hugh Baird which we want to celebrate as part of our bicentenary year partnership with Scottish Canals.

With our innovative approach, we have been working Scottish Canals to implement modern-day engineering across the canal network to preserve these scheduled monuments. Notable projects across the Caledonian Canal include the replacement of the Fort Augustus, Kytra and Cullochy lock gates on the Caledonian Canal which saw us win the Scottish Civil Engineering Award for Heritage and Restoration in 2019. On the Union Canal, we recently undertook an extensive repair and refurbishment of the canal embankment following its breach at Muiravonside in 2020 and have been involved in maintenance and restoration works at the

Richard Millar, Chief Operating Officer, Scottish Canals said:

“2022 is a special year at Scottish Canals with two of Scotland’s most popular national assets, the Union and Caledonian Canals celebrating 200 years of history, born from the industrial revolution and now transformed into important community and cultural assets supporting leisure, tourism, regeneration along their banks, these canals have a bright new future so as well as looking back we look forward to the next 200 years with excitement and opportunities.

“It’s great to be working with one of our key partners Mackenzie Construction in developing and delivering these community celebrations. Mackenzie Construction has been instrumental to helping us safeguard our canals for the future, from vital restoration works to the Muiravonside breach on the Union Canal in 2020 to the upgrading of several locks in the middle district of the Caledonian Canal.”

Falkirk Wheel which connects the Union Canal to the Forth & Clyde Canal.

MARK BRAMLEY JOINS AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR NORTH OF SCOTLAND

Mackenzie Construction is delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Bramley as Regional Director for the North of Scotland. With significant business opportunities in the area, Mark will be responsible for driving growth and building key relationships in the region.

Mark shares of his appointment, “Mackenzie Construction is well-recognised in the civil engineering sector and its reputation for high quality work has already established the business as a reliable partner in the North of Scotland. I’m looking forward to consolidating this position and building on our identified growth opportunities. The leadership team are very much focused on progression and I will ensure that we embody that innovative approach as we grow our business in the North.”

Mark joins from Pat Munro where he has held various directorships over the past 15 years including the role of Managing Director of their Construction and Homes Divisions. With a strong commercial background, Mark began his career in quantity surveying and his expertise now spans commercial, operational, finance and HR. His client experience lies primarily in civil engineering and utilities having, in particular, worked closely with Scottish Water on its frameworks for around two decades.

As the current Chairman of CECA Scotland, Mark has recently been involved in developing the “CECA Scotland Academy” which aims to offer an accredited training course for civil engineering operatives and providing a clear pathway for new entrantsparticularly young people – into civil engineering career opportunities and bridge the gap between schools, colleges and employers.

Mark says, “Across the industry we are aware of the need to recruit and retain skilled workers. It’s a key challenge which the Board of CECA Scotland have been seeking to address. As Mackenzie Construction grows in the North of Scotland, training and development will remain a priority and we will be looking to work with local schools and colleges to provide a pathway for local young people into civil engineering and futureproof the business against any skills shortage.”

Andy Dalrymple, Managing Director at Mackenzie Construction shared, “This is a fantastic time for Mark to assume the role of Regional Director as we focus on expanding in the North of Scotland. Mark’s wealth of experience coupled with local industry knowledge will add immense value to our teams in the region and ensure service delivery for our clients is of the highest quality.”

MACKENZIE CONSTRUCTION

STRENGTHENS PRESENCE IN NORTH EAST ENGLAND

Mackenzie Construction has strengthened its expansion into England with an investment into new premises in the Newcastle area. Following on from a number of framework wins with English water companies, the business has reinforced its commitment to local clients whilst it will continue to explore new prospects in the region.

The business prides itself on its partnership approach and the establishment of a regional hub in the North East will facilitate strong collaborative working with both its employees in the region and its framework clients.

Andy Dalrymple, Managing Director at Mackenzie Construction shared,

“It has been a long-term strategy for us to expand our presence in England and we are delighted to be investing in the North East region. With our commitment to exceptional service, we want to ensure our team in England have the space for collaborative working which is key to delivering the quality we have become renowned for.”

TWS REPAIRS PROGRAMME RECEIVES HIGHLY COMMENDED RECOGNITION AT THE CONCRETE SOCIETY AWARDS

We were delighted when our entry for our Scottish Water Treated Water Storage (TWS) Repairs Programme was shortlisted at The Concrete Society Awards in the CRA Repair and Refurbishment category. Contracts Manager, Mark Brown and Project Manager, Scott MacDonald attended the awards dinner, which was held in London, on Wednesday 16 November.

The TWS Repairs Programme was an intense programme of works involving 137 treated water storage tanks, pan-Scotland locations and a total initial value of almost £20M. We are immensely proud of our work on this project and the results achieved from close client collaboration, exploring new working techniques and a focus on quality throughout.

Whilst our project didn’t win in its category it was Highly Commended which is fantastic recognition for all those involved in the project and for the entire business who supported it.

Mark Brown shared,

“This project has been monumental in developing our structural refurbishment capabilities. During the programme we were successful in exploring new techniques that facilitated working on live assets, extending the lifetime of critical assets and ultimately driving water quality improvements. I am delighted that our team has been recognised for this.”

MACKENZIE CONSTRUCTION WINS ROSPA PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR 14 CONSECUTIVE GOLDS

This year, Mackenzie Construction has been awarded the RoSPA President’s Award, achieving its 14th consecutive gold level from the world-leaders in health and safety practice. Every year, nearly 2,000 entrants vie to achieve the highest possible accolade in what is the UK’s longest-running health and safety industry awards. The President’s Award is presented to organisations which have sustained the high standards of the gold level over consecutive years and is Mackenzie Construction’s fourth President’s Award.

Mackenzie Construction strives to ensure all projects are delivered with safety at the forefront for everyone involved. With health and safety ingrained in its culture, the award of its 14th consecutive RoSPA gold level is testament to these efforts. Mackenzie Construction is dedicated to continuous improvement of health and safety practices and has a clear focus on affecting positive change in the construction industry.

The business’s approach to health and safety doesn’t just stop at the physical wellbeing of its people. As attitudes towards mental health and wellbeing have progressed, and with the heightened awareness of issues around the COVID-19 pandemic, it has ensured the practices are in place for those who need support to readily receive it. The business has a team of mental health first aiders who are trained to identify the signs of those struggling and provided with the tools to assist in a sensitive and confidential manner.

Scott Harvey, Compliance Manager at Mackenzie Construction said, “I’m proud to see the effort our teams across the business put in day in, day out, to meet our stringent health and safety standards and receiving the President’s Award and our 14th consecutive RoSPA gold is a huge credit to them.”

Julia Small, RoSPA’s Achievements Director, said, “This is a fantastic and well-deserved accomplishment. All our award entrants demonstrate their unwavering commitment and passion for keeping people safe at work. By receiving this recognition, Mackenzie Construction join like-minded businesses and organisations worldwide, who represent the very best in their approach to health and safety.”

WELCOMING OUR 2022 TRAINEES

Each year Mackenzie Construction welcomes an intake of apprentices, and we are delighted to have had six new trainee engineers and two new trainee quantity surveyors join our team. We have long supported young people through apprenticeships with many of our senior team having started out with Mackenzie Construction from school and working up to management and director level positions.

Our apprentices benefit from a combination of on-site and college-based learning plus supportive mentoring from people across the business. Each of our new apprentices have been assigned to a team where they will develop knowledge and skills across various civil engineering disciplines and structural refurbishment techniques as well as being exposed to the various sectors in which we operate.

With our commitment to young people being solidified with the recent launch of our Young Person’s Committee, our new apprentices will be supported by young colleagues who have been in their position and can offer peer-to-peer advice and insights. Our Young Person’s Committee was set up to enhance collaboration between our young people and senior team and to facilitate planning of events, workshops and social activities that will enhance learning and wellbeing.

Our HR Manager, Shirley McInnes, shared:

“It could not be a better time for our new apprentices to join the business. With our Investors in Young People accreditation and recently launched Young Person’s Committee we have really focused our attention on talent development and ensuring our young people are afforded the best possible learning opportunities and working environment to help them realise and reach their full potential.”

We look forward to supporting Josh Winning, Noah Hughes, Mark Greer, David Greer, Shay Mallon and Jay Stewart on their journey as trainee engineers and Blair Weir and Declan Hannigan as trainee quantity surveyors – welcome to the team!

MACKENZIE CONSTRUCTION LAUNCHES YOUNG PERSON’S COMMITTEE

In March 2022, a two-part event series kicked off at the Glasgow Warriors’ Scotstoun Stadium where our young people were brought together for the first time in two years, many of them meeting each other for the first time. Over the course of the session there were group discussions with some of our leadership team leading conversations around career growth and what advice should be given to young people starting out in the business.

The group then watched a training session from the Glasgow Warriors ahead of their 1872 cup game against Edinburgh Rugby which was then followed by Q&A sessions with Assistant Coach, Pete Murchie and Co-captain, Ryan Wilson. Our relationship with the Glasgow Warriors as their Official Civil Engineering Partner is a valuable part of our culture so it was important for our young people to get to know the club better and understand how our values align.

Briony Coyle, Site Engineer shared, “From the event with the Warriors I can understand why we are partners with the club. We try to be as much like a family as possible and it was good to hear how the Warriors prepare as a team and how they deal with the wins and losses which was very much in alignment with us.”

The second event was held in April at the Busby Hotel where we were joined by our People Ambassador and Paralympic Nordic Skier, Scott Meenagh and Amy McDonald from Headtorch, who covered a range of topics such as motivation, workplace wellbeing and mental resilience to help our young people gain confidence and clarity on their careers. Our young people were then split into groups to further discuss the various pieces of advice that had been collated from the group sessions at Scotstoun. The pieces of advice were categorised into five themes and from this, the SPARK acronym was developed.

Mackenzie Construction has long been invested in the development and growth of young talent and is committed to training and promotion from within. An important part of the development of our young people is ensuring they feel valued and heard within the business. Having struggled to bring groups together over the course of the pandemic, earlier this year we renewed our focus on keeping our young people engaged.

SPEAK OUT

not afraid to speak out if there’s something I want to raise

PASSION

ASK QUESTIONS

RESPECT

KNOWLEDGE & LEARNING

Following on from the events, Mackenzie Construction has formally launched its ‘Young Person’s Committee’ to facilitate further collaborative events and strengthen communication between our young people and senior leadership team. The SPARK acronym will act as a guide for our young people and new people joining the business. We know our young people are the future of our business and we want to ensure that they are listened to and feel heard, so that ultimately, we provide the best possible environment for them to develop and grow their careers.

Kyle MacLean, Trainee Engineer, shared,

“We’re told that we are the future of the business and you actually see this in action when people you work with are regularly moving up through the business. This is the best motivation we could have as there’s people leading the business that have been in our shoes, so you know that if you work hard the business is committed to progressing you.”

Briony and Kyle have been involved in sharing the principles behind the Young Person’s Committee with the wider business and have been putting processes in place like an email inbox that will help with the sharing of information and advice.

Briony shared, “We hope that the committee will help to bring our group of young people together both in formal and informal settings so that we can better support each other and welcome new starts. It’s also a good forum for us to discuss any issues, share advice and look out for each other at this early stage of our career.”

I’m

I channel my passion for my work and the industry into every task

I ask questions across the business and know there is no such thing as a silly question

I show respect for my colleagues, our clients and our partners

I am committed to expanding my knowledge and learning so that I can continue to grow in my role and support the business

ENGINEERING WITH IMPACT:

Q&A WITH OUR SENIOR CONTRACTS ENGINEER, GREG DRYDEN

As Scottish Canals’ Official Partner of the 200th Anniversaries of the Union and Caledonian Canals we’re celebrating the role we play in preserving Scotland’s canal heritage and engineering its future. We spoke with our Senior Contracts Engineer, Greg Dryden, who has been involved in our canal projects for almost a decade and has seen first-hand the impact our projects have had on local communities.

What is your current role, and can you give me a bit of background about your career history at Mackenzie Construction?

My current role is Senior Contracts Engineer. I started out as a trainee engineer fresh out of school and have been at Mackenzie Construction for almost nine years now during which time I have worked almost exclusively on canal projects.

Can you tell me some of your most notable canal projects?

The first projects I worked on were Pinkston Watersports and Speirs Wharf which stick out as they were the first big projects I worked on, but also because of the way they transformed the area and made better use of the space. This was when I realised the impact that our regeneration projects can have on the local area. After this I worked on our project at Bowling Harbour from phase one in 2014 right through to the opening of the Bowline cycle way in 2021 which was a big achievement.

Do you feel like you’ve been exposed to the canal heritage from working on these projects?

From working at Bowling Harbour, you’re exposed to the history of the canal and how the network was traditionally used as this was a big industrial area. During phase two we also uncovered two giant accumulator pits that housed the original mechanism

for moving the old swing bridge over the canal, so this was a good insight into past engineering.

How do you feel that Mackenzie Construction’s canal projects have impacted the communities around them?

With Pinkston Watersports it felt good to be making space for sports and activities that the local people in North Glasgow might not have previously been able to easily access.

It was also very evident when working at Bowling as the project progressed the space got busier and busier so we could see the impact this had on the community. Some of the locals didn’t even know the area existed as it had been so run down but now it’s become a bit of a landmark on the canal.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

Delivering the Bowling project as we worked on that for around seven years and there was a lot of time and effort that went into it. Everyone, from our team to the client and the public were proud of the end result as the whole area looks impressive and it’s opened up new routes for people to enjoy. We also took home the Scottish Civil Engineering ‘Community Award’ for this project which was a credit to the whole team involved.

ENGINEERING WITH IMPACT:

Q&A WITH GEORGE MCBURNIE, SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER AT SCOTTISH CANALS

We also spoke with George McBurnie, Senior Project Manager at Scottish Canals who embarked on his canal career over 40 years ago to gain an insight into how the canal network has changed over the decades.

What is your current role, and can you give me a bit of background about your career history at Scottish Canals?

I am the Senior Project Manager for Scottish Canals focusing mainly on major civil engineering projects. I joined the business in 1981 when it was still British Waterways and have been with the business through its transition to Scottish Canals. Back then there was very little vision for the future of the canals but year on year that started to change, and we’ve been on a long journey of regeneration, transforming the canal network into vibrant blue and green spaces for the benefit of communities across Scotland.

Do you feel like you’ve been exposed to the canal heritage from working on these projects?

The canals in Scotland are around 200 years old and when you think back to how they were constructed, with none of the technology that we have today, it’s mind-blowing. I feel very privileged to play a role in conserving this infrastructure which is a huge part of Scotland’s heritage.

When we dewatered the canal at Fort Augustus we had five empty chambers so you could clearly see the quality of the stonework with some of the masons’ marks from 200 years ago still clearly visible from the day the blocks were laid. These masons’ marks were their timesheets of the day so it’s amazing to see the contrast between the engineering of the past and how we work today.

How do you feel that the projects you have worked on with Mackenzie Construction have impacted the communities around them?

Since I started working on the canals, the way in which the local communities use them has changed drastically. In 1981 the canals were weedy, stagnant waters and the towpaths just muddy tracks so you saw very few people utilising the spaces. Over the years we’ve seen that change and having now diversified into greenspace projects such as The Claypits in North Glasgow, we are further widening how the canal network is used and enjoyed.

It’s not a case of what are these canals for, it’s who are these canals for, and the answer is everyone.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

If I had to pick one, it would be meeting the Queen at the opening of the Helix’s Queen Elizabeth II Canal having delivered the canal infrastructure over two years onsite. It was a great privilege to introduce the technical team who had worked on the project and escort Her Majesty, introducing each technical team member. Her smile was radiant, and that memory will live with me forever.

IMPROVEMENTS AT LIONTHORN POLICY BING

On Friday 17 June we welcomed local MSP for Falkirk West, Michael Mathieson, to our site at Lionthorn Policy Bing in Falkirk. Here, we have been working on greenspace improvements on behalf of our client Green Action Trust. Green Action Trust are an environmental regeneration charity delivering impactful projects to support community development, biodiversity loss and environmental inequality.

Through Scottish Government’s new Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme, Green Action Trust and Falkirk Council have secured funding to deliver the programme of works to develop the derelict land at Lionthorn Policy Bing into usable spaces for the local community. Lionthorn Policy Bing sits on the remains of a coal mining spoil heap that was developed for sports use in the 1960s. By the 1980s this area had fallen into disrepair and in 2018, as part of a number of local plans and strategies was identified as a key regeneration opportunity.

As lead contractor, we commenced work in Spring 2022 and to date have been involved in the development of a grass football pitch with surrounding mounds for seating areas. A number of landscaping improvements are also underway including the installation of new topsoil layers, tree and plant growing. We’re proud to lead projects that improve the places in which we live and work for local communities and we look forward to seeing these spaces utilised for health, social and environmental benefits.

Michael Mathieson, MSP for Falkirk West said of the project,

“I am delighted to see the progress being made on the Lionthorn Greenspace Initiative, regenerating the remains of a coal mine spoil heap into a community green space between Hallglen and Lionthorn. It is great to see this space being turned into a community space for all to enjoy.”

Mike Ewart, Operations Manager at Green Action Trust added,

“We were delighted to welcome Mr Matheson to the site at Lionthorn Policy Bing to discuss the exciting plans for the area and demonstrate what partnership working can deliver for the environment as well as the health and wellbeing of our communities.

“The greenspace improvements at Lionthorn Policy Bing will provide a valuable amenity for the local community and make a positive contribution to the aims of the wider Central Scotland Green Network.”

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: MIA MACLURE

For this year’s International Women’s Day, we caught up with Mia Maclure who is currently working towards a degree in Construction and Project Management whilst taking on the role of Trainee Engineer at Mackenzie Construction.

Can you tell me a bit about your role now and what you’ve been working on recently?

I’m currently studying towards a degree in Construction and Project Management at Glasgow Caledonian University but have been on placement with Mackenzie Construction for the last year working in the role of Trainee Engineer.

I’m site-based and at the moment I’m involved in a lot of the paperwork and material ordering side of things, making sure everything is running to plan on site. I’ve been lucky to work on a variety of jobs since I started with Mackenzie Construction and on my previous job I was more involved in setting out works and learning to use the machinery that goes alongside that.

What initially motivated you towards a career in civil engineering?

I’ve been interested in architecture and engineering from a young age. Growing up in Glasgow, I was always exposed to big construction and civil engineering sites, and it always interested me how these worked. I initially studied a year in Architecture which I have a HNC in but I decided it wasn’t quite right for me and as I was more interested in the construction and project management side of things I decided to take that route. During this degree I became more and more interested in civils so when my placement came up the role at Mackenzie Construction was perfect.

change. We’re constantly looking at ways to make things more sustainable and I’ve been heavily involved in the digitalisation of our sites, moving away from paper and taking things online.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘break the bias’, how do you feel that the team at Mackenzie Construction help to break the bias against women in engineering?

I’ve been really welcomed in my team from the start and my Contracts Manager, Gavin Chesney, has really encouraged me to push the boundaries. Being a female in the industry you do tend to stand out a bit more and you feel a need to push yourself, but all the managers support you to do that. There are also other women in senior engineering and site agent roles at Mackenzie Construction so that’s really motivating. Everyone in the business from the management team to the teams on-site encourage you to get involved and I’ve always been treated equally.

What do you find exciting about working in this industry?

Nothing is ever the same and the variety is what keeps me going. If you ever think you have your day planned out something always changes and that keeps it exciting. Every job I’ve worked on has been totally different so you’re learning so much every day.

It’s also exciting to be part of the younger generation within the industry whilst it’s going through so much

What would you say to other young women considering a career in civil engineering?

Go for it! There’s nothing to stop you – don’t be put off by any bias, push yourself and do it. It’s such a good industry for an exciting career and there’s huge growth opportunities where you can have a really successful career.

Over the years our business has changed but one thing that’s remained steady is our commitment to people and promoting from within. One person who’s been there through the changes is Contracts Manager, Greg Deehan. He shares, “I started in 1996 as a Trainee Engineer and I remember even from those early years there’s always been regular news of promotions from within the business so it’s not a new concept. We’ve always been aware that if we work hard the opportunity to progress is there.”

Greg, who was promoted earlier this year into the role of Contracts Manager, has moved up through various roles in the business and was always motivated knowing there was the opportunity to progress. He said, “Mark Wilson (Construction Director) started a few years before me and I saw him progressing through the same route that I could take so this always kept me focused and looking ahead to the next step.”

In 2022, the business has made a number of notable promotions, including those of former foremen Ritchie Bennett and Tam Baird into the newly created role of Site

Manager. Both men have been in the business for over 30 years and have played a big role in ensuring safety and quality standards are maintained on our sites whilst passing their knowledge and skills onto our younger generation. Their hard work and dedication has seen the business move them into management roles where they will now have the responsibility of managing a wider remit of sites and ensuring standards are upheld by all of our site teams and subcontractors.

Ritchie joined Mackenzie Construction from school, starting out as a Cement Finisher and working on the tools for around 10 years before moving into the role of Foreman. He shared,

“At that stage I felt ready to take the next step and wasn’t sure if there was a position for me. When I spoke with management they listened and promoted me into that role, so I respect them as an employer for giving people the chance when they think they are ready for the next step.”

Tam, who started out in the business as a Labourer, believes this newly created role will motivate the younger foremen in the team, he shared,

“I’ve had three or four guys work under me that have come up to foreman level and now they’ve seen me being promoted into this position and that the opportunity is there, hopefully it will give them a new incentive and something to aim for.”

With both Ritchie and Tam having previously reached the highest foreman level there was no clear route for progression which, with the creation of this new role, is no longer the case. Ritchie shared,

“With the Foreman role, once you’d reached the top level there was nowhere further to go but with the creation of the new Site Manager position the younger foremen are going to realise there’s another step up. It’s also provided another route into a management role without needing the academic qualifications – this route isn’t for everyone, especially with sitebased roles where we tend to prefer to be very hands on.”

For Greg, Ritchie and Tam, the step up to the next level has also seen them move further into mentor roles for our younger generation. Greg shares how the mentors in the early stage of his career helped shape him into who he is today,

“I’ve had various mentors over the years, all with different management styles and I learnt a lot from that which I now take into my own management role.

“One of these was Finlay Niven who was completely ahead of his time in regard to setting out. I tried to take on board all of his skills and knowledge as well as his approach in embracing new ways of working.”

Now, having come up through the ranks, Greg is in a strong position to coach our young people. He said, “I’ve been in their exact shoes so I do find it easier to mentor our younger people. As I’ve come through the business I know what is expected at each level and there has always been very high standards. I try to instil this work and quality ethic into the next generation as well as our safety, quality and service values that we always strive to achieve.”

Tam believes that for our young people to succeed they need to be committed to their learning and development. He shares,

“I’ve always taken the time out to teach anyone who is willing to learn and who will give me the time back. Mostly they do as they know without that commitment they are going to struggle to progress.

“I think if someone knows that in their role there is another goal to reach they’re not only going to do their best for the business but also for themselves.”

Greg, Ritchie and Tam have all progressed their careers at Mackenzie Construction and demonstrated years of hard work and commitment to the business, our clients and their fellow colleagues. When asked what’s kept him in the business for all these years, Ritchie shares,

“Every day is different, and every day is a school day. With any new job there’s a new approach which gives you a challenge and keeps things fresh.”

Greg echoes this, sharing, “The main thing is the variety of work. We work across a wide range of heavy civils, bridges, roads, water tanks – every job is different.”

He added,

“The people also make Mackenzie Construction what it is. There’s a lot of good people in the business and they become your friends rather than just colleagues. Teamwork is at the core of our business and our successes and failures are shared as a team – everyone knows we’re all in this together.”

We’d like to extend a big congratulations to all our people who have received well-deserved promotions this year.

Mark Wilson: Construction Director

Alan Montgomery: Contracts Director

Greg Deehan: Contracts Manager

John Hollocks: Water Manager

Raymond Bennett: Senior Estimator

Stuart MacNicol: Project Manager

Jonathan Hall: Project Manager

Chris Magee: Project Manager

Ritchie Bennett: Site Manager

Tam Baird: Site Manager

Paul Dunne: Site Agent

Kevin Houston: Site Agent

Thomas McGuigan: Senior Contracts Engineer

Keir Adrian: Senior Contracts Engineer

Bernard Lee: Contracts Engineer

Greg Williams: Contracts Engineer

Yusuf Williams: Contracts Engineer

COMMUNITY SUCCESS IN DRUMNADROCHIT

We’ve been working on behalf of our framework client, Scottish Water, to make critical water main upgrades to both extend the water supply to new housing developments in Drumnadrochit and to provide improved quality and security of supply to the existing community. Commencing in early 2022, the project was completed six weeks ahead of schedule in early June 2022 – an impressive achievement given our clients requirement to remove traffic control for the Easter and public holidays as well as the Snowman Rally and Etape cycle race.

With community engagement a key focus for the places in which we live and work, throughout the project we have been in close communication with locals, the Glen Urquhart Community Council and local Councillor David Fraser. We were pleased to receive positive feedback from the Community Council with mention of the prompt and tidy manner in which we have been undertaking works. Working alongside Scottish Water, we also explored how we could bring additional benefits to the local community whilst working in the area and have carried out improvement works to the Drumnadrochit Information Hub in providing a pedestrian area adjacent to the new information boards as well as a water supply to the new ‘Top-up-tap’ facility.

We also received a message of thanks from the fire station at Drumnadrochit for the courteous and considerate approach from our team regarding the operational importance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue station at Drumnadrochit, ensuring the crew have had safe access and egress to the fire station over the prolonged period of work. As a business, it’s important that we live out our values wherever we are operating and the positive feedback received from the local community in Drumnadrochit highlights the quality and hard work from our site teams across the country.

MACKENZIE CONSTRUCTION RENEWS SUPPORT FOR IRVINE MEADOW FOOTBALL CLUB

With our commitment to supporting community causes we have renewed our sponsorship of Irvine Meadow Football Club as the club celebrates its 125th year. Irvine Meadow is a community-focused club whose first XI compete in the West of Scotland League Premier Division whilst there are a total of 15 teams catering for different groups including women, retirees and a full youth setup.

Mackenzie Construction’s former Managing Director, Brian Lamb, took on the role of General and Commercial Manager at Irvine Meadow upon his retirement in 2016 and since taking on the role, has been committed to improving the club and its role in the community. The club recently launched its Medda in the Community initiative that will focus on how the club can support the local community outside of football.

Previously, Mackenzie Construction has also supported Irvine Meadow with maintenance and improvement works around the club facilities including pitch surface upgrades, repairs to the main stand and improving disabled access facilities that enabled the club to be granted its SFA license.

Brian Lamb, General and Commercial Manager at Irvine Meadows said of the support, “Mackenzie Construction has played a huge role over previous years in getting the club and its facilities to what they are today and without the support from the business we wouldn’t have been granted our SFA license. Their continued support will help to strengthen the club and how we support the local community here in Irvine.”

Andy Dalrymple, Managing Director at Mackenzie Construction added, “It’s fantastic to see the impact that our support has had on the club and its community over the past few years – we look forward to continuing our sponsorship and helping the club go from strength to strength!”

INSIDE OUR APPRENTICESHIPS

People excellence is one of our key brand pillars and as part of this, developing our young talent and growing their careers within the business has long been a priority. We spoke with Robbie Coleman, who recently graduated from Trainee to Site Engineer, and one of his mentors, Site Agent, Daniel Brown to gain an insight into apprenticeships at Mackenzie Construction.

THE ROUTE TO TRAINEE ENGINEER

Robbie first considered a career in civil engineering whilst still at school but at the time believed university was the only route for this career which he didn’t feel was right for him. After school, he opted to join the Merchant Navy instead which he did for around a year before exploring other options. He shared, “I first became aware of Mackenzie Construction as some of the guys from my football team worked there and one of my friends had just started as a trainee. At the time there was only apprenticeships in quantity surveying available which wasn’t my first choice but the guys on the team spoke highly about working there and it was the industry I wanted to pursue my career in, so I applied for the position.

Fortunately, after my interview with Mark Wilson I think he realised my skills lay more on the engineering side of things and they offered me a trainee engineer position. Now I’m six months away from qualifying and it’s been quite a journey.”

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Something we pride ourselves on at Mackenzie Construction is the level of support and mentoring our young people receive meaning our knowledge has been passed down the generations for over 40 years. Robbie has worked under Contracts Manager, Gavin Chesney’s team for the past few years where he has received guidance from Gavin and Daniel as well as Project Manager, Paul Ferry and Site Engineer, Kier Adrain.

Robbie said of working within Gavin’s team,

“It’s been the same team of us for a few years and it’s a very tight ship – we all get along and it’s been brilliant working alongside them and learning from them. They’re all really supportive and with them there’s no such thing as a silly question.”

We also spoke with Daniel who has mentored Robbie for a number of years as well as coming through Mackenzie Construction’s apprenticeship scheme himself, working up to his current position of Site Agent. He also spoke of the support received in the past from senior team members. He shares,

“In my experience the support aspect is what stands out to me about the way Mackenzie Construction trains and develops its young people. When I was a trainee, I was fortunate enough to work under mentors like Robbie MacLean and Gavin Chesney who encouraged you to use your own initiative but were always there to support which helped me develop my work skills immensely but also overall encouraged me to become a better person.”

Having been a trainee himself, Daniel is well positioned to mentor our young people and has worked with a number of apprentices over the years. He shared,

“Over the past few years I’ve had many trainees working under me on various projects and various clients. When they’re fresh out of the blocks I’ll usually have them shadow me so I can see where their strengths and interests lie. Once we’ve established that I’ll start assigning them more responsibility and small goals to help build their confidence. I’m always there to support but I like to push them out of their comfort zone so they can continue getting better and better.”

This approach is something that Robbie has valued throughout his apprenticeship and the leadership qualities from Daniel, Gavin and the wider team have been something he has admired and wants to take forward into his career. Robbie said, “I’ve had a lot of strong values instilled from the beginning working under Gavin’s team. They’re consistently demonstrating hard work and a commitment to quality and health and safety which has motivated me to keep improving in these areas. They’ve had a lot of patience with me and other trainees and the way they treat people is really respectful – I look up to them all as managers. Now, when I’ve had younger trainees working with myself, I treat them the same as I know how beneficial that’s been for me.”

LOOKING TO MACKENZIE CONSTRUCTION’S NEXT GENERATION

YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR

Robbie’s talent, drive for improvement and positive attitude earnt him the 2021 Young Person of the Year title as part of our annual Mackenzie Warriors awards. We asked some of his mentors to share why Robbie won this award. Daniel said, “Robbie has developed hugely over the years, he’s very self-aware and always knows what he needs to do to be better. His technical ability is also great, he genuinely cares about his work and takes an interest in what he’s doing. Seeing him grow and develop over the years has been a personal highlight as he’s helped me grow as a manager and a person”

Gavin added, “I’ve been fortunate to work with Robbie throughout his apprenticeship and he’s really stood out on some of our key projects for his attitude, drive and eagerness to learn. He’s showed full commitment to the team and business, enabling him to be recognised for his work ethic and I’m looking forward to seeing how his career continues to develop with us.”

Over the years we’ve continued to expand and develop our apprenticeship scheme and we’re now proud to have young trainees undertaking their apprenticeships with us spanning civil engineering, quantity surveying and bricklaying. The recruitment of our next generation of apprentices for various roles within the company is currently ongoing ensuring we have the talent in place now to manage the business in the future. When young people join Mackenzie Construction, they are not only being provided with supportive mentors and interesting work opportunities but a strong family culture and a business that genuinely cares about its people. We discussed with Robbie some of the best things about working at Mackenzie Construction, “The business is heavily invested in health and wellbeing and we take part in various activities and challenges that will benefit us in that area. There is also a big focus on mental health and the support is there for those that need it with a team of mental health first aiders that I’m proud to be a part of. We also work with some amazing charities and it’s a good feeling to give something back to local causes.”

We asked Robbie if he had any final words for young people considering an apprenticeship in the civil engineering industry,

“I’d 100% recommend it – it’s challenging and there’s ups and downs but that’s the nature of the industry and it’s how you approach these challenges that make you a better person. My advice to new trainees would be to ask as many questions as possible, speak to the site teams, speak to the contracts teams and absorb as much information as possible. Ultimately, it’s a very rewarding career and your apprenticeship sets you up for life.”

HEAD OFFICE BBQ

We’d like to send a big thank you to all involved in our head office BBQ on 29 July. We’ve missed holding this event over the past few years so it was great to see everyone together and taking part in our raffle for Cancer Support Scotland which raised a fantastic £270.

CHARITY FOOTBALL

MATCH

In August we held our annual charity football match to raise funds for Cancer Support Scotland. The teams battled it out on one of the hottest days of the year with the white team getting a 7-6 win. Well done to Man of the Match, Blair Weir and a big thanks to Greg Deehan and the Health & Wellbeing Committee for organising a great event.

WELL DONE TO OUR ZIPSLIDERS

A massive well done to our brave zipslide team, Josh Buchanan, Briony Coyle, Ciaran Caldwell and Mark Wilson who took on an impressive 150ft high zip slide challenge across the Clyde. Together, they raised over £1,000 for our nominated charity, Cancer Support Scotland so thank you to the team and those who turned out to support.

SUMMER GOLF DAYS

Many of our keen golfers were out and about at various golf days over the summer. Hosted by WaterAid Scotland we had Gavin Chesney captaining a team with the day raising £18,500 for the Deliver Life Project in Malawi whilst Robbie MacLean captained days held by CECA Scotland and Glasgow Warriors.

We also had our very own annual Mackenzie Construction golf day which was held at Cowglen Golf Club. Any proceeds raised went towards our 2022 nominated charity, Cancer Support Scotland of which our total is currently sitting at over £4,200 so a massive thank you to all who have supported.