VGC’s senior directors have announced the shortlist for the 2021 Go Beyond awards.
Chief executive officer Laurence Mckidd said: “Thank you to everyone who sent in submissions to show how you appreciate your colleagues. Thank you to everyone who was nominated, for living our values.
“This shortlist represents the best of the best, and I am immensely proud of you all. Judging to select the winners in each category is going to be tremendously hard, but a good problem to have.”
We achieve potential – shortlist
Site staff
The VolkerHighways Maidenhead station approach project team – Alastair Smith, Florin Cretu, Nathan Sullivan.
- “The team engaged with the designers and took on extra duties in order that we could deliver, without the need for redesign and costly rectifications. They provided excellent record-keeping so we could substantiate all requests.”
Opeyemi Osiyemi, site supervisor on Integrated Track Team (nominated by our client Balfour Beatty)
- Opeyemi was nominated by both client management and his team on ITT for showing commitment and determination. He is a team player and motivator and ensures the job is done safely at all times. Our client said: “a real credit to VGC and an asset to ITT.”
Ryan O’Connell, promoted from lift supervisor to appointed person on HS2 (nominated by our client Skanska Costain Strabag):
- “He works exceptionally hard, a big asset for VGC, always working above and beyond. He’s hungry to learn. He always explains why we do things in the safest way. All the drivers comment on his accuracy. In his breaks he handles paperwork. Takes pride in doing good work.”
Office staff
Chantal Austin, compliance and quality manager
- Chantal upholds the highest standards in quality and compliance. She has ensured all VGC’s 2021 audits have been successful, adapting to meet the demands of online auditing.
HS2 north team – Steve Kenny, James Burke, Antony Iveson, Anna Bieda, Amy Wells, Kayleigh Boxley, Mitch Turbitt
- This newly-formed team has consistently delivered throughout the year, including supporting our client BBV’s sustainability team in helping previously unemployed people into work. The team have seen over 400% growth In 2021 and are leading on the establishment of collaborative labour desks in the region.
Nicki Mason, manager of Cole Hire
- Nicki has adapted the business processes to ensure clients and colleagues have stayed safe during the pandemic and has led the team to an increase in operating profit. She ensures excellent customer service at all times. Supports all her staff, doing the best she can for them, inside and outside work.”
Tommy Hunter, Alex Wyatt and team members on the A19 contract (nominated by client Balfour Beatty)
- VGC has scored 100% across all metrics for surety of supply, sustainability, health, safety and wellbeing, and productivity.
We deliver on our promises – shortlist
Site staff
A40 team – William Donnelly, Declan McComb, Krista Edwards
- Working collaboratively with the client, they have supported client Milestone to save around 220,000kg CO2 equivalent emissions on the project to date by using HVO fuel supply to all items of plant.
Elton Cala, site foreman on Crossrail C610 (nominated by client ATC)
- “Loyal and reliable, Elton is a great ambassador for VGC”. After initially working for us in 2010 on the Olympic Park as a groundworker, he has continually focused on his self-development and is now a section foreman on ATC. He played a major part in the build and delivery of the Paddington siding and over the last 12 months has achieved his level 6 in Construction Site Management.
William Donnelly – A40 Milestone
- Leading his project to deliver safely, on time, and within budget. He has developed an excellent working relationship with the client which will lead to future work.
Will Young, promoted to groundworker on HS2 BBV contract
- Will started as a general operative and was promoted to groundworker earlier in the year. He has recently completed his NVQ in carpentry and is embracing all opportunities for development on the project. He represented VGC and site workers ‘brilliantly’ in a video call, to West Midlands Mayor Andy Street at the opening of the new VGC Solihull offices.
Office staff
Anthony Fender, Senior Recruitment Consultant
- A real team player, he is always helping others, and has built excellent relationships with clients. He has tripled his order book since the start of the year. Many commendations include one from Siemens: “By far the best recruitment agent I have ever worked with”.
Chris Ryan, Managing Director and Stephen Burns, Client Engagement Director
- Chris and Stephen have spent the last 5 years working on our long-term sales pipeline which has led to our winning contracts on all four sections of HS2; one of only two companies to achieve this. They continue to promote excellence in labour supply and collaborative working models.
Dan Templeton, Senior Recruitment Consultant
- After he identified skills shortages in the team, he developed and ran impactful training sessions. He has tripled his order book since the start of the year. We have had positive comments from client BAM about his service.
Mark Davies, Financial Controller
- Reviewed and improved processes including budget template, to make it easier for us to identify and manage costs. He also introduced a GRN system for VGC Projects to increase efficiencies in materials delivery to payment process.
The payroll team – Elaine Ryan, Gina Holohan, Angela Holder-Brown, Melanie Clarke, Shalini Patel
- They have never let our workers down: the payroll is always run on time and accurately every week, and they continue to always put our workforce first.
Sudarshan Deshmukh, IT Director
- SD has worked to help the company manage and develop new systems and software to create efficiencies and excellence in a series of key processes. Live projects include the payroll system, Access database and BMS.
Kimberley McGinty, CSR Manager
- Kimberley leads the award-winning Go Beyond the Gates programme for ex-offenders. She also leads our school engagement programme which has reached over 3500 students in 2021.
HS2 tender team – Chris Ryan, Ciara Pryce, Steve Kenny, Ciaran Alstowe, Richard Wheeler, Laura Perry, Kimberley McGinty
- The team has evolved our tender writing processes on a series of high-value contracts which resulted in market-leading submissions and the award of all four sections of HS2.
Nirvana Murray, Resourcing and Compliance Assistant
- A number of nominations thanked Nirvana for her support of new starters. She is always happy to help, and readily shares her knowledge. She looks after five labour managers, who thanked her for her excellent day-to-day support.
Richard Wheeler, Head of HSQE
- Richard has been central in the continued coordination of our covid-19 response plan. He also received thanks from the M4 Project Director for his “help, expertise and coaching” especially in taking around 250 participants through the Make Safety Personal programme in two days.
We look after each other – shortlist
Site staff
City Fibre contract team – Bobby Hayre and Cosmin Simeon
- They stopped work to help a care worker get a patient back into their wheelchair following a fall.
Clive Webster
- He “calmly and confidently” provided first aid when a client engineer collapsed at work, until the paramedics arrived. The engineer made a full recovery.
Siemens Durham Coast resignalling team – Mark Griffiths and Robert Brown
- When they spotted a car stopped on a level crossing, fearing the driver was ill, they rushed to assist. Finding the car empty, they pushed it clear of the open line.
Office staff
Daniel Maciuca, caretaker
- He goes beyond to ensure the office is a quality environment for staff, finding jobs that need to be done and completing them to a high standard
Conor McKeon, labour manager
- Conor always pays a personal interest in his staff on the projects he works on. An incident happened where he provided personal support to a young apprentice out of hours, supporting him financially, emotionally and reconnected him with his support network.
Nick Wells, labour manager
- “Really listens to the staff” and helped an operative who was in a difficult situation at home: “total respect”.
Outstanding achievement
This award is for the member of staff or team who has consistently demonstrated all the VGC values throughout the year.
All the winners will be announced at our six-monthly meeting on Thursday 16 December.
We will update our website shortly afterwards.
