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,
17 October 2018
Enterprise adviser Kim joins national advisory group
Skills and employment adviser Kimberley McGinty has been invited to share her expertise with a national advisory group. The invitation recognises her exemplary work as an enterprise adviser in London. Kimberley is one of only two enterprise advisers, out of 180 in the London area, chosen to sit on the Enterprise Adviser Advisory Group. This is
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
21 September 2018
Sudarshan Deshmukh promoted to IT director
We’re pleased to announce that Sudarshan Deshmukh has been promoted to the role of IT director. Sudarshan Deshmukh, also known as ‘SD’, has worked for VGC for 12 years. He joined as an IT assistant and was promoted to deputy IT manager in 2009, becoming IT manager in 2011. During his time at VGC he
17 September 2018
Giving young people an insight into construction
Kim writes: I work with a lot of students in my role as VGC Group’s skills and employment advisor. It is so important to give young people an insight into the world of construction and engineering, especially if it’s outside their regular experience. And it’s vital to talk to girls about the career opportunities open
13 September 2018
Apprenticeships key to social mobility and economic growth
Improving social mobility, and better education and training, are key to addressing the UK’s productivity gap, says a new report from The 5% Club. In its report, the group sets out recommendations for business leaders and government to drive social mobility while ensuring inclusive growth. Six per cent of VGC staff are currently enrolled on
7 September 2018
Tackling modern slavery in construction
Ciara writes: Preventing modern slavery is something I feel passionate about. I’m proud of the way we are working to remove the risk of labour exploitation within our company and our industry. It’s not a small problem. The Global Slavery Index estimates that 45.8 million people are caught in slavery today. The International Labour Organisation
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
