14 March 2019
Pension increases this April
Elaine writes: From this April, you have to pay more into your pension. Your payslip will show more money going into your workplace pension after 6 April 2019. The minimum amount which you and VGC pay went up last April and is now going up again. This will help to build your pension for your
11 March 2019
Happy retirement, Ciaran!
Congratulations to labour manager Ciaran Murray, who has retired after 15 years at VGC. Ciaran has been key in supplying labour and trades to major infrastructure contracts in the north-west. His numerous projects have included the Mersey Gateway, Urenco, North West Electrification Project, the Manchester airport relief road (A6MARR), and the Ordsall Chord. Last week
8 March 2019
Wellbeing at VGC
Fiona writes: As a health and safety adviser, part of my role involves raising awareness of best practice. This expanded in 2018 when I become VGC’s wellbeing champion. I look at what VGC is doing, and what other initiatives we can implement to improve the wellbeing of our staff. Over half of all ill-health working
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
7 January 2019
Collaboration award for A14 IDT
The A14 Integrated Delivery Team has won a prestigious collaboration award. At the Institute for Collaborative Working Supply Chain awards ceremony at the House of Lords on 13 December, the A14 Integrated Delivery Team won the supply chain collaboration award. The award was for the ‘collaborative nature of the supply chain management approaches’. This approach
2 January 2019
Richard Palin, new VGC director for northern region
Richard Palin has joined VGC as Labour Solutions northern operations director. Managing director Laurence Mckidd said: “We’re delighted to welcome Richard to the team. He is a highly motivated leader with a strong track record in staff development, motivation and client delivery. With his solid working knowledge of talent acquisition, onboarding and outsourcing, he will help
13 December 2018
December 2018 company update
Our biannual staff meeting was held on 11 December in Cardinal House. Thanks for a successful 2018 Executive chairman Sean Fitzpatrick thanked everyone for their work this year, particularly those who achieved in extreme weather. Sean welcomed twelve new members of staff, most of them in newly created posts, a sign of how well VGC
3 December 2018
Lewis Bennett completes his apprenticeship
Lewis Bennett has finished his apprenticeship. As a qualified groundworker, he is now set for a successful career. Lewis works for client Balfour Beatty on the Crossrail Woolwich Box C530 project. “Well done to Lewis – he is a role model for new apprentices,” said his labour manager Mark Beer. “He is very punctual and
26 November 2018
NVQ apprenticeship successes at Hinkley Point
Congratulations to Scott McKay and Mike Jennings on successfully completing their apprenticeships at Hinkley Point power station. They have gained Intermediate Level Apprenticeship in Construction Operations which includes a BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Construction Operations and Civil Engineering Services. Both of them are working for client Kier Bam JV on the deep dig at Hinkley
22 November 2018
'Act Ethically and Transparently' Skanska award
Skanska presented VGC with the ‘Act Ethically and Transparently’ award at their inaugural infrastructure supply chain awards ceremony. The six awards given on the night were: Care for Life – won by Aggregate Industries Act Ethically and Transparently – won by VGC Group Be Better – Together – won by Byrne Bros Commit to Customers –
20 November 2018
Leading the way against modern slavery in construction
Ciara writes: Construction News has recently published a report highlighting worker exploitation through modern slavery practices in the construction sector. This comes just days after six Romanian men in their 20s were rescued from alleged slavery in east London on 13 November. How many more reports like this will we have to read before the
13 November 2018
Positive feedback from Building Confidence audit
Auditors praised VGC’s processes in the annual Achilles Building Confidence audit. We demonstrate compliance and improvement against the UK construction industry’s accreditation and registration standard through regular audits. Since 2011 the Building Confidence audits by Achilles have noted areas where we lead best practice. Elements where VGC demonstrates leadership within the field have repeatedly included safety,
