8 April 2019
Time to Change pledge
VGC has signed the Time to Change employer pledge. To demonstrate our support for our people’s mental wellbeing, managing director Laurence Mckidd signed the pledge on 27 March, witnessed by the board of directors. We have committed to help break the silence and end the stigma around mental health issues. We want everyone to think
8 March 2019
A14 IDT health, safety and wellbeing impact day
Ben writes: On 7 March I attended the A14 Integrated Delivery Team health, safety and wellbeing impact day in Peterborough. This was the second impact day on the project. The first day was focused on planning safely – taking time to think about the works we were doing and to reinforce the message to stop
1 October 2018
Career Ready partnership promotes construction careers
We have partnered with UK-wide charity Career Ready to inspire more young people to consider a career in construction. Three VGC senior managers – managing director Laurence Mckidd, group services director Ciara Pryce and HR manager Laura Perry – have volunteered to join the charity’s local advisory boards. They will partner with seven schools and
26 April 2018
Employability event at Brixton prison
Kim writes: I went to prison last week. Tideway West invited VGC to join them at an employability skills event run by Key4Life at Brixton prison on Tuesday 17 April. Labour manager Donatus Jausicas and I were pleased to attend. Key4Life’s mission is to reduce youth reoffending. They deliver rehabilitation programmes to those in prison
7 February 2018
VGC achieves Ethical Labour Standard
VGC is the first labour supply company in the UK to achieve the new Ethical Labour Sourcing Standard (BES 6002:2017). VGC is also the first company in the rail sector, and one of just three companies to date, to attain the Ethical Labour Standard (ELS). The audit report said: “As one of the largest labour and
22 January 2018
A14 stand-down day
Ben writes: I attended an excellent stand-down day on the A14 in December. The event was held at the IWM Duxford RAF War Museum. There were two briefings of around four hours each, with the day split into two halves to reduce the numbers inside the museum. The start of the briefing was a message from
15 December 2017
December 2017 company update
At this month’s staff meeting the senior directors looked back at a very successful 2017. Our chairman, Sean Fitzpatrick, thanked everyone for their contributions to the year. He pointed out that everyone’s individual contribution is part of our shared success. The 2017 budgeted sales figure of £76 million was a huge challenge, and it’s remarkable
24 October 2017
Guest blog: Samaritans
James Woodcock, Samaritans corporate fundraising manager, writes: Statistically, construction workers across the industry are at higher risk of suicide than average. An ONS survey, Suicide by Occupation, released in March this year, found that manual workers in construction are at 3.7 times greater risk of suicide than their peers in other sectors. Some people find
19 April 2017
Client commendations for John's teams
Graham writes: Recently teams led by labour manager John Daly received several commendations from clients. Manchester to Blackpool rail upgrade Gangs working on the Manchester to Blackpool line were thanked by our client Siemens. The first was an incident in Bradshaw Fields, where we are working on LOC bases on the PN21BR Manchester to Bolton
20 January 2017
Our new charity for 2017: Samaritans
VGC will be supporting Samaritans in 2017. “We are proud to have a large and incredibly diverse workforce at VGC. The issues which Samaritans can help people with can affect anyone, regardless of their background,” said Ciara Pryce, Group Services director. “We want to increase the awareness of these issues amongst our colleagues, signpost them
