Our six-monthly meeting was held at Cardinal House at the end of June.
After Sean Fitzpatrick, our executive chairman, welcomed everyone, MD Laurence Mckidd gave up update on the year so far.
We are working in a challenging environment, but infrastructure is a growth sector. Our clients expect us to solve their problems and help them to make an appropriate profit. VGC has a good reputation and a track record of success, so they are keen to work with us.
Director Chris Ryan mentioned some of the key clients we’re currently supporting on projects including Heathrow, Hinkley Point, HS2, Sellafield, smart motorway upgrades and London Underground and Network Rail infrastructure. Projects director Jacques Kriel described some of the interesting projects we are working on, including town centres and fibre broadband contracts.
Group services director Ciara Pryce spoke about the innovations we’re investing in, to improve our efficiency and effectiveness. Contracts manager Steve Kenny described how some of the new technologies will work.
HR manager Laura Perry then introduced our new competency framework.
The framework, which is mapped to our values, focuses around three core competency clusters:
- strategy and planning
- delivering results
- collaborative relationships.
Each of these has its own behavioural development profile.
They will help us evaluate the way people work, and give a clear pathway to develop and grow within our organisation.
We are currently testing the framework with the labour solutions and projects teams, and will roll out to other areas over the next six months. Later in the year we will review and update the appraisal process in line with the framework.
By investing in our people, we’re making sure our team is ready and able to meet the changing requirements of our clients and the industry.
‘Go beyond’ values recognition scheme
Ciara described the new awards scheme for people who go above and beyond the expected in the way they live our values.
People are encouraged to nominate colleagues who deserve recognition, using the website nomination form.
Awards are reviewed by the board and we will hold an awards ceremony at the staff event in October 2019.
Charity partnership
Construction has very high levels of mental ill-health, and suicide is a growing concern. We are partnering with State of Mind Sport to raise awareness of the importance of mental wellbeing. We watched Danny Sculthorpe’s five-minute video, which made a big impact on everyone.
We have two qualified mental health first aiders and 26 mental health champions. Our fundraising activities this year have included a coffee and cake morning, a golf day at Sellafield, John Hannan’s endurance cycle and Laurence Mckidd’s 10k run. Everyone is encouraged to get involved!
Awards and successes
- A14C2H achieved a Highways England award for employee engagement and behavioural change. The award is for everyone in the A14 integrated labour team, of which we are a part; and we can feel proud that put in the time to write the award submission.
- We gained a RoSPA silver award.
- Costain Skanska JV gave us a collaboration award for our work with partners to support ex-offenders into new sustainable careers (see go beyond the gates).
Ciara also congratulated everyone involved in the successful implementation of the Salesforce database.
Sean presented long service awards to:
- Chantal Austin, Nicki Mason and Zena Wigram (five years)
- Mark Beer and Chris O’Sullivan (ten years)
- Theresa Harrington and Laura Kenneally (15 years)
The meeting was followed by a fundraising quiz at the Middlesex stadium. Thank you to everyone who took part, especially Alex Dalton for hosting the quiz and writing the questions for the VGC round. So far we have raised £1,560 for State of Mind Sport.
Download the presentation slides from the meeting (1.2MB pdf)
