4 September 2018
How do you make reinforced concrete?
Concrete resists crushing pressure, but it can crack if it is bent. So reinforced concrete is formed around steel reinforcement bars.
19 August 2018
Kim's Thames Tideway Tunnel on-site experience
Kim writes: As VGC Group’s women in construction champion, I decided to get some hands-on work experience. I wanted to understand what it takes for a woman to work on site; the challenges, the lessons and the bonuses. I worked on the Thames Tideway Tunnel project for a week, starting on Monday 18 June. The project
17 August 2018
Goodmayes team wins Costain safety award
Costain presented our team at Goodmayes with a SHE award after they stepped in to help out after a passenger incident. Foreman Andy Smith and his team assisted the emergency services. A passenger train was stopped outside Goodmayes station for 90 minutes during the incident, and the team also took water from their own stores to
16 August 2018
Hackathon: labour market needs post-Brexit
Ciara writes: I was delighted to be invited to an immigration hackathon to explore labour market needs for employers and employees in a post-Brexit Britain. The event at the Institute of Government on Thursday 9 August 2018 was hosted by Fragomen Worldwide and the REC. It was attended by a wide range of businesses, agencies,
27 July 2018
Two further Network Rail Star awards
Our rail teams have won a further two Network Rail star awards for their work on Crossrail Anglia sub-station projects. Crossrail’s senior construction manager assessed the Gidea Park and Shenfield sites on 27 June. At each of the sites, VGC is building a substation, with works including site investigation, demolition and site clearance excavation and construction
26 July 2018
Ciara's blog: Working in industry, for industry
Ciara writes: At VGC we constantly work to improve the way we deliver our business, and ensure that we meet the needs of our clients and the people who work for us. This is why we don’t just focus on the job we are delivering. We also want to be at the forefront of our
13 July 2018
Macdonald wins joint Crossrail collaboration award
Michael Lee, construction interface manager, and Macdonald Onwona, general foreman and lead worksite train controller (WTC), have jointly won a Crossrail collaboration award. Macdonald reports to Michael on ATC Systemwide. This is the Alstom TSO Costain joint venture managing the C610 Crossrail tunnel fit-out from Royal Oak to Canary Wharf and Plumstead. “Mac is so committed,
20 June 2018
VGC supports 5% Club recommendations to tackle 'diversity deadlock'
We support The 5% Club ‘Breaking the Deadlock’ report in calls for urgent action to drive a more diverse and inclusive uptake of earn and learn placements. The report notes that business heads, industry sectors and the government need to be involved in ensuring a diverse talent pipeline. It offers tips to help companies offering earn
19 June 2018
June 2018 company update
Different presenters offered new points of view at last week’s six-monthly update. Twice a year, everyone who can make it gathers in the Cardinal House boardroom, for an update on how the business is doing. Thanks, welcomes and a sad farewell Managing director Laurence Mckidd started the meeting with thanks to everyone for their work
18 June 2018
Kim prepares for a week on site
As VGC Group’s women in construction champion, I’m responsible for attracting women to the industry. Although I deliver many presentations on this subject I’ve decided that I’d like to get some hands-on experience so that I can give the women I talk to an honest insight. I want to do a week’s experience on a
12 June 2018
Observations lead to fewer incidents
Our key influencers are making a tremendous difference everywhere they work. Since 2012 the number of observations has risen in direct proportion to the number of key influencers on site. And, as shown on the graph above left, as observations (blue) have risen, incident rates (red bars) have fallen dramatically. As trained workforce champions, our key influencers
11 June 2018
Meeting the secretary of state for work and pensions
Ciara writes: I met Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Esther McVey in Caxton House in Westminster last week. It was a very useful discussion of the labour market with key industry leaders. They included Peter Cheese, chief executive of CIPD, James Hick, MD of Manpower, Laura Hegarty, head of comms for Indeed, Chloe
